TCM physician immobilised and molested boss

TCM physician immobilised and molested boss

SINGAPORE - A Chinese physician used acupuncture to immobilise his near-naked boss, then molested her.

The 62-year-old sinseh, who was spared caning because of his age, was on Friday sentenced to two years and nine months in jail, with District Judge Lim Tse Haw sparing little in condemning his actions.

Not only had he "abused her trust by seriously violating her body in a most despicable manner", but by claiming trial despite the overwhelming evidence against him, the physician had also forced the victim to "relive her nightmare by making her testify".

"Your actions have also tarnished the good name and reputation of TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) practitioners, most of whom I'm sure are of good moral standing and ethical," the judge added.

The 45-year-old married victim, who runs a TCM clinic in Chinatown where the sinseh was working, testified that she had already been treated by him three times before for sciatic nerve pain.

But during the fourth session on Christmas Eve in 2009, his use of acupuncture made her unable to resist his advances.

He fondled the victim, who was dressed only in her underwear, and touched her private parts.

When she asked him to stop, he allegedly took off his gloves and walked away.

She had to order him to return and remove the acupuncture needles.

He later sent her a letter of apology, but was fired on Jan 31, 2010.

The sinseh, who is married but cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, could have been jailed for up to 20 years and fined or caned for touching her private parts.

khush@sph.com.sg


Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.