SINGAPORE - A construction worker was jailed for two months on Friday (Nov 27) for molesting an Indonesian maid.

The court heard how Bangladeshi national Halim Mohammad Abdul, 23, had been painting at a block of flats in Hougang when he took a liking to a domestic maid he noticed.

While at an 11th-floor lift landing of the block on Oct 29, he saw the 26-year-old in the kitchen of her employer's unit and whistled at her. He gestured and waved at her to come out but she waved him away.

Twenty minutes later, she went to throw away rubbish near the lift landing. Halim approached from behind and held onto her left hand, while using his free hand to cover her mouth. He pushed her against the wall. She struggled to break free and Halim tried to kiss her on the lips, but she turned her face away and he managed to kiss her on the left cheek.

He then pulled her towards the nearby staircase but she managed to break free and fled.

Halim then grabbed hold of her T-shirt from the back, causing it to tear slightly.

It was only when Halim heard the victim's female employer exiting her unit that he released his hold.

The victim reported the incident to her employers who called the police. Halim was arrested that day.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Soo Tet said significant force was used on the victim to prevent her from getting away, and that Halim's actions had caused distress and alarm to the victim.

District Judge Jasvender Kaur backdated his sentence to Oct 31.

The maximum punishment for outrage of modesty is two years' jail, a fine and caning.