Public Prosecutor v C: Rape, Attempted Rape, and Outrage of Modesty Case Involving a Minor
In Public Prosecutor v C, the High Court of Singapore heard a case against the accused, C, charged with rape, attempted rape, and outrage of modesty against his 16-year-old daughter. The alleged incidents occurred between 1999 and 2000. The court, presided over by Judicial Commissioner Choo Han Teck, found inconsistencies and unresolved issues in the complainant's evidence, raising reasonable doubt. Consequently, the court discharged and acquitted the accused on all three charges.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Accused discharged and acquitted.
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
High Court case involving charges of rape, attempted rape, and outrage of modesty against the accused concerning his daughter. The accused was acquitted due to reasonable doubt.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Prosecution | Government Agency | Charges Dismissed | Lost | Christopher Ong, Wong Sook Ping, Sia Aik Kor |
| C | Defendant | Individual | Acquitted | Won |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judicial Commissioner | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Christopher Ong | Attorney-General's Chambers |
| Wong Sook Ping | Attorney-General's Chambers |
| Sia Aik Kor | Attorney-General's Chambers |
4. Facts
- The accused was charged with rape, attempted rape, and outrage of modesty against his daughter.
- The complainant alleged the rape occurred in 1999, the attempted rape in February 2000, and the outrage of modesty between September and December 2000.
- The complainant told her friend about the rape after the second incident but did not report it to the police until after an unrelated incident.
- The accused maintained his innocence throughout the trial.
- The complainant identified the Alana Hotel as the location of the outrage of modesty incident.
- The accused claimed he had sold the flat where the attempted rape allegedly occurred and no longer had access to it.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v C, CC 51/2002, [2002] SGHC 275
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Rape allegedly committed by the accused. | |
| Attempted rape allegedly committed by the accused. | |
| Outraging modesty allegedly committed by the accused. | |
| Complainant molested in a van. | |
| Judgment issued. |
7. Legal Issues
- Standard of Proof
- Outcome: The court reiterated that the prosecution must prove the case against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Category: Procedural
- Related Cases:
- [1998] 2 SLR 42
- Woolmington v DPP 1935 [AC] 462
- Credibility of Witness
- Outcome: The court found the complainant's evidence to be unsatisfactory due to inconsistencies and lack of explanation for certain omissions.
- Category: Substantive
- Related Cases:
- [1998] 2 SLR 42
8. Remedies Sought
- Criminal Prosecution
- Imprisonment
9. Cause of Actions
- Rape
- Attempted Rape
- Outrage of Modesty
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soh Yang Tick v PP | High Court | Yes | [1998] 2 SLR 42 | Singapore | Cited regarding the impact of a victim's failure to promptly file a police report on their credibility in sexual offence cases. |
| Woolmington v DPP | House of Lords | Yes | Woolmington v DPP 1935 [AC] 462 | England and Wales | Cited for the principle that the prosecution must prove the case against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| No applicable statutes | |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Reasonable Doubt
- Credibility
- Inconsistencies
- Corroboration
- Standard of Proof
- Disclosure
- Omission
15.2 Keywords
- Rape
- Attempted Rape
- Outrage of Modesty
- Singapore
- High Court
- Criminal Law
- Acquittal
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Evidence
- Sexual Offences
17. Areas of Law
- Criminal Law
- Sexual Offences
- Evidence Law