Update 12 Apr 2021: 71 sexual misconduct complaints involving students in past 5 years: NUS
NUS said in its report that it received 12 sexual misconduct complaints last year. Seven cases took place on campus while the rest occurred either off campus or online
A total of 71 sexual misconduct complaints involving students were made to the National University of Singapore (NUS) in the past few years. About a third of these complaints, or 24 incidents, involved verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature, NUS said in its first report on sexual misconduct which was sent to students and staff members on Wednesday (Jan 6).
The report covered complaints made between 2016 and 2020 involving students and staff members. Eighteen complaints were linked to voyeurism while six were related to taking upskirt photographs or videos. Five were classified under sexual assault.
Two reports were made regarding rape where the victims alleged that they had non-consensual sex, said NUS, adding that no further action was taken following investigations by the university and the police.
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NUS had 71 complaints of sexual misconduct involving students in past five years
The number was highest in 2019, when 25 such reports were made.ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
A total of 71 complaints of sexual misconduct involving students were made to the National University of Singapore (NUS) in the past five years. The number was highest in 2019, when 25 such reports were made. This was the year former NUS student Monica Baey sparked a discussion about sexual misconduct by voicing her frustration that the university had not done more against a male student who had filmed her in the shower at the Eusoff Hall student residence.
In its first report on sexual misconduct, sent to students and staff on Wednesday (Jan 6), NUS laid out a summary of past and present cases, including the type of complaints it received, and a breakdown of last year's cases. The university said the report will be provided every six months, with the hope of strengthening and deepening trust within the NUS community.
NUS had 12 complaints of sexual misconduct in 2020. During the year, its board of discipline or disciplinary appeals board also dealt with another three cases involving students, acting on complaints made before 2020.
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This young lady was just going about her day and minding her own business on the train when she got sexually harassed by a pervert. This pervert is Terence Siow Kai Yuan, a student at National University of Singapore (NUS) who has been accused of molesting the woman three times but was spared from jail because he has the “potential to excel in life”.
According to The New Paper, District Judge Jasvender Kaur sentenced him to 21 months of supervised probation and said that his actions towards the woman were considered as “minor intrusions” even though he had purposefully touched her three times. The 23-year-old had pleaded guilty to one charge of outraging the modesty of a 28-year-old woman while two other charges were taken into consideration.
The incident had happened on September 12th last year when Siow was on the North East Line heading towards Punggol station at about 11.30pm. He had noticed the victim who was wearing shorts and said that she had “very long legs”. And no, this is not about what she was wearing because she can wear whatever she wants!
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Singaporeans decry judge’s move to spare NUS student Terence Siow from jail for molest charge
The offender is a student at the National University of Singapore. Photo: Facebook
A Singapore judge’s decision to sentence a university student who molested a woman to probation instead of jail has sparked outrage, with prosecutors on Friday appealing and the law minister endorsing their move.
Terence Siow, 23, who attends the National University of Singapore (NUS), was convicted on one count of outraging the modesty of the woman by following her after she got off a subway train and using his finger to touch the part of her shorts covering her buttocks.
On Wednesday he was given a 21-month probation order by District Court judge Jasvender Kaur, who found Siow had not been able to control his urge but that the molestation was “minor”.
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Ruling for NUS undergrad’s ‘minor intrusion’ molestation case sparks nationwide anger, petition goes viral
If you live in Singapore, there’s no way you would have missed today’s most talked-about story: National University of Singapore (NUS) undergrad Terence Siow Kai Yuan yesterday received a mere slap on the wrist for having repeatedly molested a woman in a public space, as the judge presiding over his case looked to Siow’s accomplishments as a student to determine that he has “potential to excel in life.”
The Case - Siow, 23, was sentenced to 21 months probation by District Judge Jasvender Kaur, who cited his solid academic records, as well as his molestation of a 28-year-old woman in 2018 as “minor intrusions” to explain how she arrived at the decision.
The probation was meted despite the prosecution’s request to have Siow jailed for six weeks, which the prosecution asked for since the defendant had allegedly made an unsettling habit of molesting unsuspecting female victims in public spaces. Apparently, Siow had admitted to committing similar offenses at NUS since 2016.
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'Potential to excel in life': NUS undergrad who molested woman gets probation for 'minor intrusion' offences
A university student who molested a woman was given probation on Wednesday (Sept 25) after the judge rejected the prosecution's call for a custodial sentence.
Citing her reasons, District Judge Jasvender Kaur described Terence Siow Kai Yuan's offences as "minor intrusions" several times.
She also noted that the probation report had found Siow suitable for probation as his academic results show he has the "potential to excel in life".
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NUS Student Who Molested A Woman Will Not Be Jailed As He Has 'Potential To Excel In Life'
District Judge Jasvender Kaur instead sentenced him to 21 months of supervised probation, saying that the NUS student, identified as Terence Siow Kai Yuan, has the "potential to excel in life".
According to a report in The New Paper, judge Jasvender rejected calls from the prosecution for Siow to be handed a jail term. She justified her decision by describing his three instances of touching his victim as "minor intrusions".
The judge said:
- "Looking at the nature of the intrusion, I would say it is minor,"
- "He was 22 years old when he committed the offences... and the nature of the acts (is) relatively minor," she added while noting his academic results.
- "I think there can be no doubt that there is an extremely strong propensity for reform."
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NUS undergrad molester avoids jail because he has good grades & ‘potential to excel in life’
A student from the National University of Singapore (NUS) who repeatedly molested a woman at Serangoon MRT station in September 2018 was on Wednesday (Sep. 25) sentenced to probation.
According to The New Paper, the judge rejected calls from the prosecution for 23-year-old Terence Siow Kai Yuan to be handed a jail term.
Justifying her decision, District Judge Jasvender Kaur reportedly on multiple occasions described Siow’s three instances of touching his victim — twice on her thigh and once at her private parts – as “minor intrusions”.
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74,000 signatures in 6 days on petition against sentence of molester from NUS
More than 74,000 signatures have been registered on an online petition within six days after it was launched against the sentence received by a molester from the National University of Singapore.
The online petition is calling for signers to take a stand against “favouritism” for sex offenders. The petition was started on Thursday, Sep. 26, 2019.
The convicted molester, Terence Siow Kai Yuan, 23, who is an NUS student, received his sentence the day before.
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More than 40,000 sign petition against NUS student's sentence in molest case
In less than two days, tens of thousands of people have signed an online petition calling for signatories to take a stand against what was termed as "favouritism" for sex offenders.
The change.org petition comes after a National University of Singapore (NUS) student was sentenced to probation on Wednesday (Sep 25) for molesting a woman at an MRT station. The petition was started on Thursday afternoon, and by 9.30am on Saturday, it had gathered more than 40,000 signatures.
The student, 23-year-old Terence Siow Kai Yuan, was charged with using criminal force with intent to outrage the modesty of his victim.
related: Shanmugam ‘surprised’ at verdict in the case of NUS student molester, says AGC intends to appeal
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Shanmugam 'surprised' by molest case outcome; AGC files appeal against sentence
The Attorney-General’s Chambers has filed an appeal against the sentence imposed on Terence Siow
Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam said on Friday (27 September) that he was “surprised” by the verdict of a molest case, in which a university student was given probation after the judge rejected the prosecution's call for a custodial sentence.
In a Facebook post, Shanmugam also revealed that officers at the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) told him that they disagreed with the verdict as well, and intend to appeal.
Following the minister’s post, the AGC said in response to media queries that it has filed an appeal against the sentence in the case.
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AGC appeals against verdict of 'minor intrusion' molest case
The intention to file the appeal was revealed in a Facebook post by Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam.
Mr Shanmugam said AGC officers disagreed with the verdict and added this was consistent with his own views.
An AGC spokesman told TNP: “The Attorney-General’s Chambers has filed an appeal to the High Court with respect to the sentence imposed on Terence Siow Kai Yuan. We are unable to comment further as the matter is before the Courts.”
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NUS student’s molest victim: I had no idea he wrote an apology
The letter, reportedly handwritten by Terence Siow Kai Yuan, 23, earlier this year, was part of the defence's mitigation during sentencing, Chinese-language newspaper Shin Min Daily News reported on Saturday. Shin Min sent the victim, Ms Karmen Siew, 28, a copy of the letter via a messaging app.
Ms Siew said on Facebook yesterday it was the first time she had heard of the apology. "I was never given a copy and had no idea it existed prior to Shin Min bringing it up," she said.
Ms Siew told The New Paper that she had not read the copy of the letter sent to her. "I think it's strange that a handwritten letter that was supposedly meant for me did not reach me, but instead got to Shin Min first," she said.
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Probation for NUS student who molested woman, victim says she is “disappointed but not surprised” by decision
Victim “disappointed but not surprised”
The victim, who revealed her identity as Karmen Siew (28) in a report by The New Paper, said that she suffered from the incident and is now “mildly paranoid” whenever she rides the train.
In a Facebook post responding to the news, she expressed her disappointment in the system where the molester received a “get out of jail free card” because of his academic qualifications. She also referred to Brock Turner, an Stanford university athlete and convicted rapist who was jailed for a mere six months.
“I’m not angry anymore. I am just disappointed that the courts are choosing to treat and adult who has committed multiple sexual offences (not only on me, but on others) as a child, but I am not surprised.”
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Karmen Siew September 26 at 1:13 PM
(** I've edited the post for various reasons.)
Yes, it's me.
1) It was not my buttocks. He ran his finger along my genital area.
2) I was offered $5,000 to compound the case for a lighter sentence. I refused to do so, and this is the resulting (read: not light) sentence.
3) He literally got a "get out of jail" free card because of his academic performance.
4) Brock Turner.
5) I'm not angry anymore. I am just disappointed that the courts are choosing to treat an adult who has committed multiple sexual offences (not only on me, but on others) as a child, but I am not surprised.
6) He is a math tutor.
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Spate of NUS molestation cases
Sexual Harassment Scandal At Singapore's Top University
NTU investigating inappropriate student behaviour
NUS Molester Avoids Jail As He Has “Potential to Excel”
NUS probes students for alleged stripping
At least 14 NUS undergrads disciplined over risque orientation games
Sexualized Freshman Orientations at NUS
