Thursday 20 November 2008

3 inmates charged with sexual and physical assaults

Three prisoners have been charged with physically and sexually assaulting their fellow inmate in a cell in Changi Prison earlier this year.

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Guanyu said...

3 inmates charged with sexual and physical assaults

By K. C. Vijayan
19 November 2008

Three prisoners have been charged with physically and sexually assaulting their fellow inmate in a cell in Changi Prison earlier this year.

The three men, aged between 19 and 21, are accused of punching and kicking the man in his chest and body some time between April 26 and May 5.

All three are also said to have forced the man to perform oral sex on them in the cell on several occasions between April 27 and May 5. One of them also allegedly sodomised him in the cell on April 28.

The alleged offences occurred in one cell in the prison. The trio were charged in July.

The alleged victim, who was hospitalised for about two months because of his injuries, cannot be named due to a court order.

The assailants are also not being named as it could lead to the victim’s identity being established.

The alleged victim was sentenced to more than one year in jail for two offences, including theft.

Each of the three attackers faces separate trials in the High Court and Subordinate Courts.

The sexual assault offences, which each carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and caning, will be heard in the High Court because of the severity of the offence.

A pre-trial conference for the sexual assault offences is due in the High Court next month.

Each of the three also faces charges of causing grievous hurt to the man - an offence that carries up to 10 years’ jail time and a fine or caning. These charges will be dealt with in the Subordinate Courts.

The charges state that the trio punched and kicked the man until he suffered severe fractures and internal injuries, including to the ribs, liver and breast-bone.

A pre-trial conference was held in the Subordinate Courts on Tuesday, and the case was adjourned to Dec 30.