Rape trial: Man admits to lifting his mother’s blouse
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The man accused of raping his mother denied committing the offence at his trial but admitted to lifting her blouse with the intention of looking at her private parts.
Taking the stand for the first time on Friday (22 July), the 33-year-old safety co-ordinator, who is claiming trial to one count each of rape, molestation and aggravated molestation, also told the court that he had called her mother a “cheap prostitute” before.
The bespectacled man looked calm during questioning by his lawyer Harry Elias, as he appeared before Judicial Commissioner Foo Chee Hock at the High Court.
The man and his family members cannot be identified due to a gag order. He is said to have committed the offences around 2.30 am on 4 October 2013 at the family’s one-bedroom flat.
Recounting the sequence of events that led to the alleged offences, the man said that he was out drinking on 3 October and had returned home around 2 am the next day.
Wanted to see mother’s private parts
After placing his mattress on the floor, he approached his mother, who was asleep on her bed. As he lifted her blouse, the mother asked her son what he was doing, the man said.
According to the accused, he then went to his mattress and pretended to be asleep. “I admitted that I lifted her blouse but I did not molest, force her to masturbate me or rape my own mother,” he said.
When the accused was questioned by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Sellakumaran Sellamuthoo about his intention, he admitted to wanting to look at his mother’s private parts.
The accused agreed that he could have done that because he had drunk a lot earlier. He told the court that he had consumed a bottle of gin and half a bottle of whiskey before the incident.
Called his mother a prostitute
The accused said that he had a love-hate relationship with his mother. During their regular arguments, the accused had often called her names, he claimed.
“I’ve called her a cheap prostitute and (said to her) that she will sleep with any man when we argued,” he said.
His mother and father divorced when he was young, and he and his two other brothers were sent to a welfare home, the court heard. He claimed that he was often angry with his mother when he thought about how he and his brothers felt neglected during their younger days.
Despite the resentment, he said that he still loves his mother and would give her
a monthly allowance ranging from $300 to $500.
The hearing will resume on 7 September.
If found guilty of rape, the man faces a jail term of 20 years, caning and a fine. He could also be jailed up to 10 years and caned if he is found guilty of aggravated molestation. For molestation, the accused faces a jail term of up to two years’ and caning.
