Foreign worker jailed eight months for molesting train commuter

Foreign worker Islam Md Mohidul was jailed eight months for molesting a woman on board an MRT train on June 26. ST GRAPHICS

SINGAPORE - A foreign worker who molested a woman on board an MRT train was sentenced to eight months' jail on Thursday (Sept 17).

Islam Md Mohidul, 28, admitted touching the 25-year-old woman in the train, which was going towards City Hall, at about 7.30am on June 26 this year.

A court heard that Islam, who was employed at a worksite near City Hall MRT station, boarded the train at Kranji MRT station . The victim boarded at Sembawang. She later sat on Islam's right and began reading some documents. Shortly after, she fell asleep.

Islam was attracted to her and decided to take advantage of her falling asleep.

As there were then many commuters, he pretended to cross both his arms over his chest, when he had, in fact, slipped his left hand under his right elbow so that he could surreptitiously reach over to the victim's left breast.

He molested her. When she did not wake up, he became bolder and continued to rub her more forcefully, even moving on to her nipple to rub it for a few seconds.

The victim woke up and he quickly retracted his hand. She shouted and told him off for touching her. He apologised, and claimed it was an accident.

The angry victim then used her mobile phone to take his photograph. She later made a police report.

Islam was arrested in an ambush at Kranji station on July 15. He initially feigned ignorance but eventually admitted to the offence.

In mitigation, he said he was remorseful and promised not to offend again.

District Judge Ng Peng Hong said a heavy sentence had to be meted out, and the court had to send a strong signal to people like him that such behaviour on public transport, especially in MRT trains, could not be tolerated.

Islam, whose sentence was backdated to Aug 27, could have been jailed for up to two years, fined, caned or received any combination of these punishments.

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