Man jailed 10 weeks for recording upskirt videos at MRT stations
He targeted women wearing skirts and had recorded upskirt videos of them eight times. But on his ninth attempt, he was caught in the act.
Eugene Phang Cheng Qing was sentenced to 10 weeks’ jail on Wednesday (20 September) after pleading guilty in the State Courts to three counts of insulting the modesty of women. Seven similar charges had been taken into consideration during sentencing.
The court heard that Phang, a 24-year-old Malaysian, was at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station on 24 May this year when he intentionally stood behind a female. He then slid open the lid covering the camera lens of his iPhone and placed it underneath the victim’s skirt to take a video lasting about 40 seconds.
The whole act was witnessed by Darren Phua Wei Liang, a commuter. When Phua confronted Phang, the latter admitted to taking a video and claimed that it was his first successful attempt at doing so. Phua brought Phang to an MRT staff, who then called the police.
Phang was subsequently placed under arrest. His iPhone and laptop were seized for investigations, which uncovered a total of nine upskirt videos. All the videos were recorded between May 5 and May 24 this year.
For the two other similar charges proceeded against him, Phang had taken the videos at Buona Vista MRT station and Mountbatten MRT station.
T. M. Sinnadurai, Phang’s lawyer, said in his mitigation plea that Phang is remorseful for his actions.
Phang has taken steps to attend counselling on his own accord and the offences were his first brush with the law, Sinnadurai added.
