Man accused of molesting woman at Nex shopping mall being investigated in other similar cases
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Sharil Hassan was hauled to court on Aug 8 to receive one charge of outrage of modesty.
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
- Sharil Hassan, 49, faces a charge of outrage of modesty for allegedly molesting a woman at Serangoon NEX shopping mall.
- Sharil was arrested after CCTV footage identified him. Preliminary investigations suggest he may be linked to five other similar cases.
- Police are working with stakeholders to prevent such cases and urge immediate reporting, vowing to deal with offenders sternly.
AI generated
SINGAPORE – A man who allegedly molested a woman at a Serangoon shopping mall is also accused of being involved in at least five other similar cases.
Sharil Hassan, 49, was hauled to court on Aug 8 to receive one charge of outrage of modesty.
He will be kept in remand for further investigations and will return to court on Aug 22.
The police said they had arrested the 49-year-old man on Aug 6, 15 hours after receiving a report that he had allegedly molested a woman at Nex shopping mall.
Sharil was on the escalator, travelling up from the basement of the shopping mall, when he allegedly touched the buttocks of a woman.
He was identified and traced by the police through CCTV footage.
Court documents showed that Sharil allegedly committed the offence while under a remission order. There were no details on his former offence or offences.
Preliminary investigations show that he could be involved in at least five other similar cases.
If found guilty of outrage of modesty, he can be jailed for up to three years, fined or caned, or receive any combination of these punishments.
In an Aug 7 statement, the police said they will continue to work closely with stakeholders, including public entertainment outlets and public transport operators, to prevent and deter such cases.
“The police have zero tolerance towards sexual offenders who threaten the personal safety of the community. Offenders will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law,” they said.
They also urged those who witness cases of outrage of modesty to report the matter immediately, through the police hotline on 1800-255-0000 or online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness
Clarification note: This story has been updated for clarity.