SINGAPORE - When he came across an intoxicated woman sitting outside a nightspot at Clarke Quay, a Norwegian national pretended to comfort her but instead took advantage of her inebriated state.

Gregersen Tommy, who was in Singapore on a work trip, molested the woman for a few minutes. When the victim's cousin saw him with the woman, she pulled the victim away.

The 49-year-old pleaded guilty on Friday (May 18) to outraging the modesty of a 24-year-old woman on Aug 11 last year. She cannot be named because of a gag order.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Marshall Lim told the court that the victim had been at Zouk, a nightspot in River Valley Road, with her friends. After consuming some alcohol, she felt the urge to vomit and left the club alone.

While she was seated at a bench near the club, the accused, who had earlier visited various entertainment establishments to drink and dance, noticed her sitting alone and approached her.

After she threw up, he led her to another bench where they both sat, the court heard.

At this point, she received a call from her cousin, who was concerned after hearing her incoherent response in an earlier phone call. Tommy answered the call and told the cousin where the victim was before hanging up.

He then started patting her back on the pretext of comforting her. When she did not respond, he slipped his hand under her shirt and unfastened her bra before he fondled her.

When she still did not react, he became more daring and touched her private parts for a few minutes.

At this point, the woman was completely unresponsive and her head was bowed down, the court heard.

A few minutes later, the woman's cousin arrived at the area, intending to take the woman home. When she saw the victim with Tommy, she quickly led her cousin away.

Court documents did not specify how the incident came to light.

Tommy is expected to return to court on May 25. For outraging the modesty of a woman, he could be jailed up to two years, fined, caned, or any combination of the three.