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4th expat wanted for molest in one month

Is it a case of culture clash? Yet another expatriate is caught up in an outrage of modesty case, making it the fourth such incident involving an expatriate in one month. -TNP

Esther Ng



Fri, Sep 07, 2012

The New Paper

Yet another expatriate is caught up in an outrage of modesty case, making it the fourth such incident involving an expatriate in one month, August.

Case of cultural misunderstanding, maybe?

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On tuesday, police sent a photo of a Caucasian man who is wanted to help with investigations into a case of outrage of modesty which happened at Boat Quay last Friday at 9.15pm.

The man, described as plump, is about 1.65m tall and was last seen wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and dark-coloured pants.

When asked if there was a trend, Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) executive director Corinna Lim told The New Paper that anecdotally, the number of foreigners involved in such cases is "not insignificant".

Said Ms Lim: "This is my sense from what I hear from women who report such cases through our hotline.

"One should note that many cases of molest, rape and sexual harassment go unreported, simply because women are fearful or shameful that they are victims, or that their parents, friends or colleagues will come to know about it."

Expats wanted for molest

Click on thumbnail to view (Photos: ST, SPF, TNP)

Briton acquitted of molest

On Aug 27, a Briton was acquitted in court of touching a 29-year-old woman's private parts after he gave the woman S$5,000 in compensation.

He also apologised to the woman who was present in court, saying that he had acted "completely out of character".

The court had heard that the Briton smelled strongly of alcohol when police questioned him.

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On the same day, an Australian man was charged in court for molesting a woman on a Singapore Airlines flight.

It is believed that he touched the woman's left and right inner thighs and pubic area on Aug 25.

Earlier in August, a 30-year-old Canadian, who also has Australian citizenship, pleaded guilty to grabbing the buttocks of a waitress, and that of a guest relations officer (GRO) in the early hours on March 30.

He later compensated the waitress with S$500, and the GRO with S$600.

Expats wanted for molest

Click on thumbnail to view (Photos: ST, SPF, TNP)

Cultural misunderstanding?

So, are these incidents with foreign men a case of cultural misunderstanding?

Said pubic relations consultant Tang Li: "Men of certain nationalities have a misplaced view that women in developed countries are 'easy' or have loose morals.

"That said, a pinch on the bottom could be a compliment to some Europeans, but not to other Europeans as well. Best to keep your hands to yourselves."

Then, there are those who "deny having committed these acts, but often times, these men (local and foreign) cannot explain why they did it, It could be on the spur of the moment or they are intoxicated," said lawyer Balamurugan.

Mr Balamurugan represented four men accused of molest last year, two of whom were foreigners.

He and Ms Lim stressed that the way a woman dresses, or if she's pretty or a Plain Jane, has no bearing on whether she will be molested or raped, or not.

According to information obtained from the police, there were 1,396 cases of molest last year, down slightly from 1,415 in 2010. In 2009, the figure was 1,273.

Said a police spokesman: "In the majority of outrage of modesty cases, the culprits are unknown to the victims.

"The bulk of the culprits arrested for outrage of modesty were aged 20 to 29 years, while the victims were also mostly within this same age range.

"The victims were mainly students.

"The cases commonly took place at common areas of HDB blocks and at crowded areas such as on MRT trains and buses."

estherng@sph.com.sg

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