Prosecution seeks 20 years' preventive detention for serial offender who tried to rape tourist at Hilton Hotel
SINGAPORE — Barely five months after being released from a 14-year preventive detention term for robbery with hurt, a serial offender attempted to rape a female tourist in her hotel room.
Just hours later, Isa Ahmad, 54, robbed another woman of her phone.
At the State Courts on Wednesday (23 October), Isa pleaded guilty to one charge each of attempted aggravated rape and robbery.
He is expected to be sentenced on 12 November, pending a report to assess his suitability for preventive detention.
The prosecution is asking for the maximum 20 years’ preventive detention to protect the public in light of the seriousness of Isa’s offences and his long criminal history dating back to 1988.
Tailed tourist into room at Hilton hotel
At about 11.30am on 12 March, Isa, who was working as a housekeeper at Orchard Hotel, saw a 27-year-old tourist just before she entered the Hilton Singapore hotel.
She had flown into Singapore for a short holiday the previous day and was due to depart the next day.
Isa followed her into the hotel because he was attracted by her dressing and her looks, the court heard.
The victim took the lift to her 16th-floor room, unaware that Isa was tailing her.
Just as she was about to enter the room, Isa grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth with a purple towel he had been carrying.
During their struggle, the victim asked Isa why he was acting in that manner. He told her that he wanted to “make love” to her, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Gregory Gan.
The victim tried to distract Isa by asking if he had condoms. But he responded by pulling her neck towards him and trying to kiss her.
Isa then dragged the victim onto the bed by pulling her hair. He also used his free hand to grab a pillow and press it against the victim’s face.
When she was finally able to speak, the victim said someone else was returning to the room. She was actually staying alone, but hoped that Isa would be scared into leaving.
It worked. Alarmed, Isa let go of the victim and fled the scene.
The victim then closed the door and called hotel security. But shortly after, she heard a knock on the door. Isa wanted his purple towel back.
The victim closed the door and called security again. She also called a friend for help. Two hotel staff went to her room and a hotel staff called the police later at about 12.50pm.
The victim had finger marks on her chin, a bruise over her right elbow and a small graze over her right forearm.
Robbed tourist in lift at Tang Plaza
After fleeing, Isa loitered around Orchard Road and stole a white towel.
At about 5.40pm, he met his second victim inside the lift at the seventh floor of Tang Plaza.
The 48-year-old housewife was on holiday and wanted to meet her husband at the ground floor after her facial appointment.
Inside the lift, Isa covered the victim’s neck and mouth with the white towel. She was carrying a handbag and mobile phone and tried to fend him off by hitting him with the items while shouting for help.
Isa grabbed the handle of her handbag and struggled with her using his other hand to block her from hitting him with her phone.
During the struggle, the victim’s grip on her phone, valued at between $600 and $700, loosened and Isa grabbed it. He ran out of the lift to the car park.
The victim sought help from passers-by and met her husband before calling the police.
She had a bruise on her right hand and was given four days of medical leave.
The police traced Isa from CCTV footage and arrested him at around noon the next day outside Orchard Hotel.
In 1988, Isa was fined $300 for theft. The next year, he was jailed for five years with 18 strokes of the cane for one charge each of robbery, attempted robbery and snatch theft.
He was sentenced to 8 years’ corrective training with 12 strokes of the cane in 1994 for three counts of armed robbery and two charges of robbery with hurt. He admitted to 17 robbery-related charges to be considered in sentencing.
And in 2002, Isa was given 14 years’ preventive detention with 24 strokes of the cane for two counts of robbery with hurt. He admitted to two robbery-related charges to be considered in sentencing.
The sentence for corrective training, which is imposed on recalcitrant offenders with the aim of reforming them and lasts between five and 14 years, must be served in full with no remission for good behaviour.
The courts can also sentence recalcitrant offenders to preventive detention for a period of between seven and 20 years, with the aim of protecting the public. Like corrective training, offenders sentenced to preventive detention must serve their sentence in full with no remission for good behaviour.
Other Singapore stories:
3 Indonesian maids who were working in Singapore for years charged with funding terrorism
Coriander thief leaves scent of crime at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre
'Live crab claw machine': Restaurant's promo leaves bad taste and SPCA shell-shocked
MFA advises Singaporeans to defer non-essential travel to Chile, Lebanon
Singapore get 1st win at Netball Nations Cup, beating Ireland 51-35
