• Source:JND

An Indian national has been sentenced to four years in jail and six strokes of the cane in Singapore on Monday for harassing a 31-year-old technology specialist recruiter over a professional meeting.

The accused has been identified as 46-year-old Ankit Sharma. He is a Singapore permanent resident, as per news agency PTI.

Ankit was convicted on one charge of aggravated outrage of modesty for molesting the woman in a nursing room at a shopping mall. Ankit dragged her into a nursing room at Changi City Point mall on March 1, 2023, Channel News Asia reported.

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How Did The Two Meet?

The two met for the first time on March 1, 2023 after the woman’s colleague shared Ankit's profile with her. The professional discussions during the meeting turned awkward after Ankit started asking intrusive personal questions (sexual) over drinks at a bar, Deputy Public Prosecutor Sheldon Lim told the court, as per PTI.

The woman then excused herself to use the washroom. Ankit waited outside and on her return, pulled her into a nearby nursing room, where he kissed her forcefully, restrained her, and made repeated sexual advances despite her resistance.

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Ankit Sharma Denies Charges

The accused narrated a different story claiming that the woman had consented and had given the idea to go to the nursing room. The man’s defence argued that the woman voluntarily engaged with him but got upset after he commented about her bad breath.

The court described the sexual exploitation as "extremely high" and the intrusion "intense and prolonged".