SINGAPORE - A 22-year-old man who molested a student at a multi-storey carpark was sentenced to six months' jail and three strokes of the cane on Thursday.

Jonathan Tan Weng Keong, a Singapore Armed Forces regular, admitted to groping the 18-year-old Filipina's private parts over her shorts at about 1am, at Block 146A Rivervale Crescent on April 25 last year.

A court heard that Tan had bought some cigarettes at a convenience store at Rivervale Mall when he saw the victim walking towards the carpark.

He decided to follow her.

The victim, who was in her school uniform, sat on a kerb. Tan approached her from behind and touched her on the head, then bent down and molested her. She screamed and he fled.

Tan was arrested outside Jurong Army Camp three days later.

His lawyer S.S. Dhillon said in mitigation that his client was truly remorseful and ashamed of his impulsive actions, and that he could be dismissed from the SAF.

Tan could have been jailed for up to two years, fined, caned or received any combined punishment.