Nearly naked, a security guard at a Bukit Timah condominium climbed through an unlatched window to molest a Filipino maid who was asleep on Jan 17.

Sivaram Jengham Thevudoo, 34, a Malaysian, was sentenced to three years in jail and four strokes of the cane on Wednesday. He had pleaded guilty on Monday to assaulting the 29-year-old maid by attempting to kiss her and by restraining her when she woke up.

District Judge Wong Choon Ning noted that although it was Sivaram's first brush with the law, it was a very serious offence, punishable by imprisonment of between two and 10 years and caning or a fine.

Sivaram was on the night shift from 8pm to 8am. While patrolling at 11pm, he noticed that the window to a ground floor apartment was not latched properly. He also saw the maid getting ready for bed. After a nap, he woke up at 5.30am, removed his uniform and clad only in his underwear, climbed through the maid's window.

He knelt over her to try to kiss her. She woke up screaming and he held her arms and used his knees to pin her thighs down.

She continued to struggle and he fled through the window. He was arrested when she called the police.