Drunk man who trapped woman in bus seat, molested her jailed 10 weeks
While on a bus to Tuas Checkpoint, he harassed the woman seated next to him by caressing her arm and uttering vulgarities to her in Hokkien and Tamil.
When the woman tried to move away from him, the drunken man then blocked her way and continued to touch her.
For his actions, 50-year-old Kajayendran Krishnan was jailed 10 weeks after he pleaded guilty to one count of insulting the 44-year-old Malaysian woman’s modesty and one count of molesting her.
Another count of molest was taken into consideration for his sentencing.
Kajayendran, a Malaysian citizen and Singapore permanent resident, was working as a cleaner for SMRT at the time of the offences. Speaking through a translator, he said he had been fired since being charged over the incident.
Trapped victim on bus
According to court documents the woman boarded the bus from Boon Lay sometime between 6pm and 7pm on 7 May. She sat in the bus’ last row, next to the window.
A few minutes later, Kajayendran boarded the same bus and sat on her right. As the bus drove along Boon Lay Way, he caressed the woman’s right arm.
The woman told Kajayendran to stop touching her but he persisted. Kajayendran then uttered to her the word “sarakku” (a Tamil term for “hot chick”) as well as other vulgarities in Tamil and Hokkien.
The woman tried to leave her seat but Kajayendran blocked her path by extending his legs. After trapping the woman, Kajayendran then caressed and grabbed her right arm.
Outraged by Kajayendran’s actions, the woman approached an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officer when the bus reached Tuas Checkpoint. The police were then called.
Next time you’re drunk, don’t take the bus: judge
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mark Yeo sought a jail term for Kajayendran, whom he said had wrongfully restrained the woman while aboard public transport. He left the length of the jail term up to the court.
In mitigation, Kajayendran said he had lost his job as a result of his actions.
“I’m sorry for what I’ve done. I seek forgiveness and apologise to the victim through the court for my actions,” he said. He admitted that he had “personal problems” and to having been drunk at the time of the offences.
District Judge Mathew Joseph pointed out that Kajayendran had sought to “wiggle out of taking responsibility” for his actions by first denying his offences. He only pleaded guilty after the prosecution said it had video footage of the incident.
The judge said that no women should have to “look around her to see if she’ll be molested by anyone” while aboard public transport.
“Let me suggest to you that the next time you are drunk, you don’t take the bus. You walk home. Lest you get into any mischief,” he added.
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Woman who helped cheat engineering firm of over $10 million jailed
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