Worker jailed for theft, outraging girl's modesty

A construction worker who touched the thigh of a young girl while she was asleep was jailed for six months yesterday for outrage of modesty and two other offences.

Indian national Palanisami Mohankumar, 27, pleaded guilty to touching the girl, 11, through the common corridor window of her flat in Little India last Aug 30.

He also admitted to stealing a mobile phone from the flat in Yishun Street 22 on Sept 29, 2012 and committing criminal trespass at a unit in Bedok Reservoir Road on Sept 17 last year.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Rachel Ng told the court that Palanisami was walking around the Yishun block past midnight on Sept 29, 2012 when he found the sliding window of the girl's unit was not properly secured.

He then stole her cellphone which was lying on the table.

In the molestation case, the girl had woken up at about 3am on Aug 30 last year when she felt someone touching her on the thigh.

She saw Palanisami standing outside but did not dare to scream as she was afraid. She slapped his hand and he fled.

Her father called the police on Sept 16, saying that he suspected his daughter had been molested a couple of times in her room.

A forensic examination was conducted on the window and some fingerprints found were traced to Palanisami.

On Sept 17 last year, Palanisami went to Bedok Reservoir Road and forced open the window of a unit, intending to steal, but he left when he could not find anything.

His jail sentence was backdated to Oct 5 last year.

This article was published on April 4 in The Straits Times.

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