The Police have arrested a 21-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a case of outrage of modesty.
On 6 September 2019, the Police received a report from an 18-year-old woman informing that a man had molested her on the pretext of obtaining her body measurements for clothing advertisement. The man, posing as a woman online, had contacted the victim on Instagram directly and offered free clothes and cash to the victim in return for advertising said clothes on her social media account. Upon the victim’s agreement to take up the offer, the man requested to meet up in person to obtain her body measurements before the clothes are sent to her.
Prior to the meet up, the man then deceived the victim that “she” was unable to be at the location and “her” brother would be there to obtain the victim’s body measurements instead. Upon meeting each other, the victim followed the man to a residential unit. The man asked the victim to undress herself on the pretext of taking her body measurements, and molested her thereafter. The man neither provided clothes nor paid the victim, as initially offered.
Through investigations, officers from Jurong Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on the next day. He is believed to be involved in other cases of outrage of modesty.
The man is currently assisting with police investigations. Anyone convicted for the offence of outrage of modesty under Section 354 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224 is liable for a jail term of up to 2 years, or with fine, or with caning, or with any combination of such punishments.
Members of the public are advised to adopt the following crime prevention measures:
- Be wary of strangers who befriend you and make offers on social media platforms;
- Be wary of dubious modelling job offers that require you to send compromising photos of yourself or to undress for body measurements;
- Never meet online acquaintances alone in private. If there is a need to meet, have someone accompany you; and
- If you are molested, report it to the Police immediately when it is safe to do so.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
18 September 2019 @ 8:00 PM