Indian National Sentenced to 7 Months for Home Molestation in Singapore
Erakkodan Abinraj, an Indian national, was sentenced to seven months in jail for molesting a woman in her own home after breaking in. The victim awoke to find him touching her, leading to a confrontation with her husband who called the police. Despite defense claims of personal distress, the court emphasized the seriousness of the intrusion and the victim’s vulnerability.
An Indian national, Erakkodan Abinraj, 26, was sentenced to seven months in prison after pleading guilty to molestation, with a separate housebreaking charge considered during sentencing. The incident took place on September 22, when Abinraj entered the unit of a 36-year-old woman, who cannot be named due to a gag order, while she was asleep.
Abinraj gained entry through a balcony at approximately 4:50 AM. He approached the victim in her master bedroom and began to touch her despite her being unconscious. Upon awakening, the woman noticed Abinraj shining a phone torchlight towards her while his alleged actions were occurring.
The victim screamed, waking her husband, who confronted Abinraj. The accused, overwhelmed by fear, urinated on the spot and pleaded with the husband not to contact authorities. Once the police were called, Abinraj admitted to trespassing but denied molestation, claiming an accidental touching with his phone had caused the victim to awaken.
The prosecution sought a jail term of six to eight months, stressing the severity of the intrusion into the victim’s home, where she should have felt secure, especially since she was asleep, rendering her vulnerable. Additionally, Abinraj’s actions included urinating inside the victim’s residence, further aggravating the situation.
In his defense, Abinraj’s lawyer argued for a seven-month sentence, citing the defendant’s humble background and the recent suicide of his grandmother, implying psychological distress. The prosecution, however, noted that an evaluation from the Institute of Mental Health found Abinraj did not have any diagnosed mental condition, and the defense acknowledged this, framing his state as normal depression.
For the molestation charge, Abinraj faced a potential sentence of up to three years in prison, along with fines and possible caning.
In summary, Erakkodan Abinraj was sentenced to seven months for molesting a woman in her home after breaking in through a balcony. The victim was vulnerable as she was asleep at the time. Despite Abinraj’s claims of mental disturbance due to personal circumstances, the legal outcomes reflect serious consequences for such offenses, highlighting the sanctity of personal space and safety. ###
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
