Probation for former NYP scholar who filmed student in toilet
SINGAPORE — A former Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) scholar who filmed a fellow male student in one of the school’s toilets was given a 15-month probation on Thursday (2 January), after his suitability report turned out in his favour.
Brandon Mandolang Yong Fu, 18, had filmed his teenage victim after feeling the urge to watch pornographic material.
He was stripped of his scholarship and suspended from school for a semester. He has also been removed from the executive committee position of his co-curricular activity.
Low risk of general offending, moderate risk of sexual offending
In sentencing Yong to the probation term, District Judge Seah Chi-Ling noted that Yong’s risk of general offending was low, but that his risk of sexual offending was assessed to be moderate.
“You are an exemplary student in school and I note your close relationship with your family, which can provide support structure,” said the judge who also noted that Yong – who was also listed as a student leader on the NYP website – was observed to display “victim empathy and insight into his wrong behaviour.”
The judge also considered that Yong has been compliant with instructions, showed a willingness to address his offending behaviour, and that the offence he committed had been opportunistic and on the spur of the moment.
He ordered that Yong go through programmes to address his risk of sexual offending in order to “manage his sexual urges and practice proper sexual habits”.
“I encourage you to use this opportunity to turn your life around… in your studies I think you have shown good potential,” added the judge, who warned Yong that if he reoffended or breached his probation conditions, he would be liable to be sentenced afresh for the current offence.
Apart from a probation term, Yong will have to stick to a time curfew, attend a programme to address his sexual behaviour, and serve 100 hours of community service. His parents have also been placed on a $5,000 bond to ensure his good behaviour.
Asked if he had anything to say, Yong, who was unrepresented, said he wished to be placed on probation to be given a second chance to reform.
CCTVs caught Yong entering and leaving toilet
Yong had earlier admitted in the State Courts to one count of engaging in insulting behaviour with the intention of harassing his victim. The offences come under the Protection from Harassment Act.
On 2 May, Yong entered the cubicle of an NYP toilet to relieve himself. He then felt the urge to masturbate and begin searching for pornography online using his smartphone.
At about 11.15am, the victim entered the cubicle beside the one Yong was in. Yong then decided to record a video of the victim and held his smartphone over the cubicle partition.
When the victim looked up, he noticed the mobile phone with its camera pointing at him. Yong then quickly pulled the phone away. By then, he had recorded the victim for about one to two minutes.
The victim waited outside Yong’s cubicle to confront him but left after 15 minutes as he was late for class. CCTV cameras near the toilet’s entrance caught Yong entering it before the victim and leaving after him.
Related story:
Former polytechnic scholar admits to filming student in toilet
