Serial offender broke into flats to steal, molest women

A train driver who broke into Housing Board flats in Woodlands to molest women and steal money was sentenced to five years' jail and nine strokes of the cane yesterday.

Muhamad Nizam Ahmad, 31, pleaded guilty to six of 16 charges and had the rest taken into consideration during sentencing.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Michelle Lu told the court that at about 5am on July 27, 2010, an 18-year-old girl woke up to find Nizam kissing her on the lips and touching her private parts through her clothes.

She lashed out at Nizam who fled, dropping $20 he had stolen from her.

Ms Lu said Nizam had used a broom he found outside to fish out the key from the flat to unlock the grille gate and gain entry.

On May 14, 2011, a 28-year-old woman was shocked to see Nizam standing near her when she woke up at about 7.30am after her husband had left for work.

He jumped into the bed, covered her mouth and pinned her down before molesting her.

After a long struggle, she managed to break his hold over her mouth and screamed for help. He then ran out of the flat. Three of the house trespass charges proceeded on took place in August and October last year and in May 2009 when he gained entry through unlocked gates and doors.

Ms Lu said Nizam, a serial offender, had targeted specific residential areas and "intruded into the victims' sanctity of space". The offences were hard to detect and happened in the early hours of the day.

He could have been jailed for up to two years, fined, caned or received any combined punishment for each count of molestation. For housebreaking and theft, he could have been jailed for between two and 14 years.

This article was first published on May 12, 2015.
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