PP v Loo Cheng Lip: Employer's Sexual Assault and Rape of Domestic Maid
In Public Prosecutor v Loo Cheng Lip, the High Court of Singapore heard the case against Loo Cheng Lip, who pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault and rape against his Indonesian domestic maid, Sri Utami Tumijan. The offences occurred over several months, culminating in rape. The court, considering the vulnerability of the victim and the severity of the crimes, sentenced Loo Cheng Lip to 15 years imprisonment and 18 strokes of the cane.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Guilty plea; sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and 18 strokes of the cane.
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Loo Cheng Lip was convicted of sexual assault and rape of his domestic maid. The High Court sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment and 18 strokes of the cane.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Prosecution | Government Agency | Judgment for Prosecution | Won | Low Cheong Yeow of Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Loo Cheng Lip | Defendant | Individual | Guilty Plea | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Tay Yong Kwang | Judicial Commissioner | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Low Cheong Yeow | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Parambir Singh Sekhon | Jacob Mansor & Pillai |
4. Facts
- The accused was the employer of the victim, an Indonesian domestic maid.
- The accused ordered the victim to strip naked on her first day of work.
- The accused grabbed and hugged the victim from behind on multiple occasions.
- The accused raped the victim in the master bedroom of his house.
- The victim reported the rape to another Indonesian maid and subsequently to the police.
- The accused admitted to the offences when confronted by the police.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v Loo Cheng Lip, CC 54/2000, [2000] SGHC 173
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Accused fetched the victim from the maids’ agency. | |
| Accused used criminal force on the victim. | |
| Accused grabbed and hugged the victim from the back. | |
| Accused grabbed and hugged the victim from the back for a second time. | |
| Accused used criminal force on the victim. | |
| Accused committed rape on the victim. | |
| Victim lodged a police report. | |
| Accused was charged in court for rape. | |
| Accused was released on bail. | |
| Judgment issued. |
7. Legal Issues
- Rape
- Outcome: The court found the accused guilty of rape.
- Category: Substantive
- Related Cases:
- [1992] 1 SLR 361
- Outrage of Modesty
- Outcome: The court found the accused guilty of outrage of modesty.
- Category: Substantive
- Sentencing
- Outcome: The court considered the severity of the offences and the vulnerability of the victim when determining the sentence.
- Category: Procedural
- Related Cases:
- [1995] 1 SLR 537
- [1995] 1 SLR 448
8. Remedies Sought
- Criminal Prosecution
- Imprisonment
- Caning
9. Cause of Actions
- Rape
- Sexual Assault
- Outrage of Modesty
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Litigation
11. Industries
- Domestic Services
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sim Gek Yong v PP | Unknown | Yes | [1995] 1 SLR 537 | Singapore | Cited to support the argument that a guilty plea does not automatically entitle the accused to a discount in sentence. |
| Fu Foo Tong v PP | Unknown | Yes | [1995] 1 SLR 448 | Singapore | Cited to support the argument that a guilty plea does not automatically entitle the accused to a discount in sentence. |
| Frederick Chia Kim Heng v PP | Court of Appeal | Yes | [1992] 1 SLR 361 | Singapore | Cited for the guidelines on sentencing in rape cases. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Section 354A(1) of the Penal Code, Chapter 224 | Singapore |
| Section 354 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224 | Singapore |
| Section 73(2) of the Penal Code, Chapter 224 | Singapore |
| Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, Chapter 224 | Singapore |
| Section 73 of the Penal Code | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Domestic Maid
- Rape
- Outrage of Modesty
- Sexual Assault
- Employer
- Penal Code
- Criminal Force
15.2 Keywords
- Rape
- Sexual Assault
- Domestic Maid
- Employer
- Singapore
- Penal Code
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Sexual Offences | 95 |
| Domestic Maid Abuse | 90 |
| Domestic Violence | 80 |
| Criminal Law | 60 |
| Personal Injury | 30 |
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Sexual Offences
- Abuse of Power