A 34-year-old bio-technologist from India who rubbed his crotch against the buttocks of a 19-year-old commuter on a crowded MRT train was jailed for four months on Tuesday.
Jayaraman Kannan, who is working here, pleaded guilty to using criminal force to outrage the victim's modesty at about 9am on Aug 18 last year. He could have been jailed for up to two years, or fined, or sentenced to both.
The teenager was travelling on the train between Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Batok MRT stations when Jayaraman exposed his penis and committed the offence. She turned around and he quickly zipped up. She slapped his face and informed SMRT staff when she reached the Bukit Gombak MRT station. Police were summoned and arrested Jayaraman.
Defence counsel Vasantha Kumar said that his client, who is married, had acted totally out of character.
"He has ruined his current employment with a multi-national company and is very likely to be deported after serving his sentence," said the lawyer.
Asking the court to impose an appropriate jail sentence, Assistant Public Prosecutor Jayarajan G.K. said that the offender had pressed himself against the victim repeatedly.
