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A man in Singapore offered a woman S$5,000 (US$3,848) and a public apology after he was confronted for molesting her buttocks as he exited a lift with his wife. Chinese national Hu Guisheng, 39, was jailed for six days upon pleading guilty on Wednesday to one charge of outrage of modesty in the March 8 incident. The social visit pass holder was in a lift at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) – an extravagant tourist attraction – with his wife and friends when he targeted the woman. Hu’s group was drinking at club Ce La Vi at MBS, where he was staying. The guests left the venue at 1.34am, with surveillance footage showing Hu holding his wife’s hand as they entered the lift with others. It is not known if he was intoxicated at the time. The victim was not identified due to a gag order, according to local media reports. Hu waited for others to exit the lift, with the victim holding the door, before he turned to ogle her buttocks and molested her as he left. The shocked woman sought help from security, who detained Hu at the lift lobby. He was arrested at 2.50am and released on bail in the afternoon that day. Hu’s lawyer on Wednesday asked for a fine instead of a jail sentence of one to three weeks as pressed by the prosecution, saying his client was remorseful for his actions. The prosecution argued there was sexual exploitation involved as Hu had touched her buttocks, which was more intrusive than contact with other parts of the body such as the limbs. The defence lawyer revealed Hu had earlier offered the victim S$5,000 as compensation, including a public apology, but she had rejected the move. He also cited Hu’s failing business as punishment in itself for his crime, but the prosecutor argued that the defendant’s financial woes could not be considered a mitigating factor. District Judge Janet Wang pointed out there was a degree of sexual exploitation as Hu’s actions were deliberate. Those found guilty of outrage of modesty in Singapore can be jailed for up to three years, fined, caned, or sentenced to any combination of the penalties.
