SINGAPORE - A 58-year-old optician led his customer to a dark examination room and molested him while he was reading the letters and numbers off the screen, a district court heard.

On Friday (May 27), optician Rahmat Hassan was fined $8,000 after he pleaded guilty to his single molestation charge.

The court heard that the 36-year-old customer, who cannot be named to protect his identity, went to 203 Optical at Block 203, Bedok Central, with his father at about 4pm on Nov 1 last year.

Rahmat first checked the father's eyes. About 15 minutes later, the optician led the victim into the eye examination room at the back of the shop to check his eyes.

The room was dark and Rahmat and the customer were alone there. While the victim was reading the letters and numbers off the screen, Rahmat stroked the victim's waist with his right hand.

Shortly after, while the optician was removing one of the lenses from the test-spectacles he caressed the victim's right ear with his right thumb.

Later, when Rahmat was helping the victim to put on a pair of spectacles, he kissed the victim's lower lip.

"The actions of the accused left the victim feeling uncomfortable and disgusted," Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Raja Mohan told the court.

The victim made a police report later that day.

The DPP pointed out that Rahmat had abused his position as an optician; that the molestation took place in a confined area; and that Rahmat was persistent in his offending conduct.

Both the DPP and Rahmat's lawyer asked for a fine of about $8,000.

District Judge Ow Yong Tuck Leong agreed with them.

The maximum punishment for outraging the modesty of a person is two years' jail, a fine, caning, or any combined punishment.