A 77-year-old man was arrested on Sunday, following more than three hours of police questioning, after allegedly molesting a young woman on a bus.
The incident happened at about noon on bus 198 at a bus stop near Block 502, Jurong West Avenue 1.
Eyewitness Lin Kunyao, a 29-year-old newspaper vendor, told Chinese newspaper Shin Min Daily News in a report yesterday that he saw a large crowd gathered at the bus stop.
“Some passengers had already alighted then. There was just this man wearing a cap on the bus, along with a young couple. “The police were talking to them,” said Mr Lin.
Shin Min understands that the man was suspected to have molested the woman, believed to be in her 20s.
The bus captain stopped the vehicle and called the police after being alerted.
Shin Min rushed to the scene and found the bus parked by the bus stop, with more than a hundred people watching.
The woman was on the bus talking to police officers, along with a man believed to be her boyfriend.
At about 3.30pm, the couple left quickly. When Shin Min asked if the man had touched her, the woman said “yes” but would not elaborate.
Police told My Paper yesterday that they had received a call on Sunday at 12.19pm requesting for assistance.
It was established that a case of outrage of modesty had occurred.
The 77-year-old man was arrested and investigations are under way.
The maximum penalty for using criminal force to outrage the modesty of a person is two years’ jail, a fine and caning.
Those who encounter similar cases on public transport should remain calm, Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao quoted the police as saying in a report yesterday.
They should call 999 immediately to notify the police, inform the bus captain or train officer, or seek help from other passengers.
myp@sph.com.sg
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