SINGAPORE – In a chilling reflection of rising sexual misconduct cases, two men have recently been sentenced for separate incidents involving voyeurism and molestation that occurred in various public settings.
Upskirting Case of Chong Yong Xuan
Chong Yong Xuan, 27, was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment on 11 November 2024 for recording upskirt videos of 18 women over a six-month period. He pled guilty to one charge of voyeurism, admitting to having recorded a total of 27 videos on his mobile phone and other devices.
- Arrested in May after being caught filming a 35-year-old woman on an escalator at Tai Seng MRT.
- The recordings mainly took place in shopping malls and near MRT stations.
- Chong sought sexual gratification from these videos, demonstrating premeditated actions as he specifically targeted women in skirts or dresses.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Daniel Ong stated that Chong’s behaviour was persistent and only ceased when caught, while his defence lawyer argued that Chong was experiencing personal stress during the time of his offences.
Molestation Incidents by Sameh Mohamed Kamal Farg
In a separate case, Sameh Mohamed Kamal Farg, a 44-year-old Egyptian national, was sentenced to seven months and two weeks in jail after pleading guilty to multiple counts of molestation. His first incident occurred at the National Stadium during a Taylor Swift concert.
- Sameh molested a woman waiting in line to enter the concert on 8 March 2024.
- While out on bail for this incident, he went on to molest two more women at a fast food restaurant on 12 May.
- Further, he committed another molestation on a crowded MRT train and again at National Day celebrations in August.
His actions raised concerns about public safety, given his repeated offences while already on bail. The Court also took into account the distress caused to his victims during the sentencing.
A Call for Awareness
These cases shine a light on the importance of vigilance in public spaces. We encourage everyone to report such incidents promptly to ensure safety for all. The judiciary’s firm stance on these matters reflects the growing commitment to tackling sexual offences in Singapore.