Rapist back to old ways just months after leaving jail

SINGAPORE - A 43-year-old man, who has already spent nearly half his life behind bars, tried to force himself on a woman just eight months after his release from prison.

"A serial rapist, that's what you are," said Justice Chan Seng Onn yesterday as he sentenced Razali Osman to 20 years' jail and 24 strokes of the cane.

In 1993, aged 23, he was sentenced to 28 years' jail and 24 strokes of the cane for raping three women, including his girlfriend's sister, and robbing two of them.

He was released in February 2012.

"You do not seem to have learnt any lesson from the long incarceration and caning. You still have not learnt to restrain yourself," said the judge.

The delivery assistant and part-time cleaner pleaded guilty in October last year to one charge each of sexual assault, attempted aggravated rape and housebreaking.

After Razali's release from prison, his sister took him in.

A month later, the latest victim, a 31-year-old foreigner working here as an administrator, moved into their flat.

Razali gave her flowers and expressed his interest in her, but she turned him down, saying she had a fiance back in the Philippines.

One night in October 2012, he climbed out the living-room window of the fifth-floor flat and onto the parapet.

He then climbed through the window of the victim's bedroom.

Her bedroom door was locked.

Once inside, he covered her mouth and pinned her onto the bed.

As they struggled, he violated her sexually and tried to rape her but eventually stopped.

He told her he was frustrated after she spurned his affections, and apologised.

He even provided his name and contact details and accompanied her downstairs, where she took a taxi to her friend's place.

She later made a police report and moved out.

Yesterday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Christine Liu told the court that as a result of the attack, the woman became wary of men, which led to her breaking off her engagement a few months ago.

Razali's life of crime dates back to 1988 when he was convicted of housebreaking at the age of 17.

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