Former NUS don Jeremy Fernando avoids jail sentence after molestation charge was compounded
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Dr Jeremy Fernando was charged in March 2023 with one count of molestation.
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Follow topic:
SINGAPORE – Former National University of Singapore (NUS) lecturer Jeremy Fernando has avoided a potential prison sentence after his molestation charge
Dr Fernando, who was also a Tembusu College fellow,
With this development, he cannot be charged again over the same offence.
The 44-year-old had been accused of outraging a woman’s modesty. Under the law, only certain offences can be compounded, such as causing hurt and outrage of modesty.
Compounding an offence requires an agreement between parties including the accused and the victim to have the matter compensated, usually with a payment or an apology.
Before agreeing to the terms, the public prosecutor will also need to consider the public interest, circumstances of the offence and whether there are any aggravating factors.
Dr Fernando, who was represented by lawyer Tan Jun Yin from Trident Law Corporation, was charged in March 2023 with one count of molestation.
He had been accused of molesting a woman by kissing her lips at around 4am on July 4, 2020. There is a gag order on the identity of the victim and the location of the alleged offence.
Both he and Ms Tan declined comment when asked about their reaction to the outcome of the case.
According to earlier reports, Dr Fernando was fired by NUS following an allegation of inappropriate behaviour. NUS also lodged a police report.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers did not disclose details of the terms of the composition in its statement to The Straits Times on Jan 30.
Its spokesperson said: “Having reviewed the facts and circumstances of the case, as well as with the victim’s agreement, the prosecution acceded to the accused’s request to have the matter compounded.
“After the composition was effected, the court granted the accused a discharge amounting to an acquittal on (Jan 29).”
If convicted of molestation, an offender can be jailed for up to two years, fined, caned, or receive any combination of such punishments.
