Public Prosecutor v C: Sentencing for Outrage of Modesty and Unnatural Offences
In Public Prosecutor v C, the High Court of Singapore sentenced C, the accused, for multiple charges of outrage of modesty and unnatural offenses against his step-daughter. The court, presided over by Justice Woo Bih Li, considered the severity and frequency of the offenses, the accused's position of authority, and relevant precedents. C was convicted and sentenced to a total of 30 years' imprisonment and 23 strokes of the cane.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Accused convicted
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
C was sentenced for outrage of modesty and unnatural offenses against his step-daughter. The court considered the severity of the acts and C's position of authority.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Prosecution | Government Agency | Accused convicted | Won | Imran Hamid of Independent Practitioner Cheok Yu-Liang of Independent Practitioner |
| C | Defendant | Individual | Accused convicted | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Woo Bih Li | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Imran Hamid | Independent Practitioner |
| Cheok Yu-Liang | Independent Practitioner |
4. Facts
- The accused faced 23 charges related to his step-daughter.
- The charges included 12 counts of unnatural carnal intercourse under s 377 of the Penal Code.
- There were 11 counts of outrage of modesty under s 354 of the Penal Code.
- The accused pleaded guilty to 11 charges.
- Most offences under s 377 involved anal intercourse.
- Most offences under s 354 involved the accused inserting his finger into the victim's anus.
- The accused had a previous conviction for voluntarily causing hurt with dangerous weapons.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v C, CC 9 of 2003, [2003] SGHC 77
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Victim's teacher referred victim to school principal. | |
| Counsellor reported matter to Child Protection Service. | |
| Victim lodged a police report. | |
| Accused remanded. | |
| Judgment issued. |
7. Legal Issues
- Sentencing for Outrage of Modesty
- Outcome: The court sentenced the accused to imprisonment and caning, considering the nature of the act and the circumstances.
- Category: Substantive
- Related Cases:
- [2000] 1 SLR 370
- [1995] 1 SLR 735
- Sentencing for Unnatural Offences
- Outcome: The court sentenced the accused to imprisonment, considering the severity of the acts.
- Category: Substantive
- Related Cases:
- [1998] 1 SLR 801
- [2001] 2 SLR 413
8. Remedies Sought
- Criminal Prosecution
- Imprisonment
- Caning
9. Cause of Actions
- Outrage of Modesty
- Unnatural Offences
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lim Hock Hin Kelvin v Public Prosecutor | High Court | Yes | [1998] 1 SLR 801 | Singapore | Cited as a precedent for sentencing in cases involving similar offences of anal intercourse and fellatio. |
| Adam Bin Darsin v Public Prosecutor | High Court | Yes | [2001] 2 SLR 413 | Singapore | Cited as a precedent for sentencing in cases involving similar offences of fellatio. |
| Ng Chiew Kiat v Public Prosecutor | Unknown | Yes | [2000] 1 SLR 370 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that acts of molest involving intrusion of private parts warrant nine months’ imprisonment and caning. |
| Toh Kok How v Public Prosecutor | Unknown | Yes | [1995] 1 SLR 735 | Singapore | Cited as a case where the accused was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment and three strokes of the cane for using his knuckles to press onto the right breast of the victim. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Penal Code (Cap 224) s 354 | Singapore |
| Penal Code (Cap 224) s 377 | Singapore |
| Films Act s 30(2)(a) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Outrage of Modesty
- Unnatural Offences
- Carnal Intercourse
- Anal Intercourse
- Fellatio
- Step-daughter
- Sentencing
15.2 Keywords
- outrage of modesty
- unnatural offences
- sentencing
- criminal law
- singapore
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Sentencing | 95 |
| Sexual Offences | 90 |
| Outrage of Modesty | 90 |
| Criminal Law | 90 |
| Criminal Procedure | 85 |
| Unnatural Offences | 80 |
| Child Sexual Abuse | 70 |
16. Subjects
- Criminal Procedure
- Sentencing
- Criminal Law