Talking about Wanton - Why did this robber call her "wanton woman"?
18 years' detention, 24 strokes for recalcitrant
by Ng Jing Yng
Aug 02, 2011
SINGAPORE - After a string of theft and housebreaking offences, a man went one step further to sexually assaulting his victim after breaking into her house and taking her valuables.
For his crimes, Lim Chee Cheong (picture) was yesterday sentenced to 18 years of preventive detention - which will see him undergo a stricter regime - and 24 strokes of the cane.
According to court papers, Lim, 47, broke into the victim's Joo Chiat flat in July last year at 1.30am while the victim and her young daughter were asleep.
He went in through the window after cutting cable ties securing the window grilles and used a knife from the victim's kitchen to threaten her.
Lim then blindfolded the victim and bound her wrists before taking items, including jewellery and cash, worth more than S$2,000 in total.
Lim, who was intoxicated during the time of offence, then sexually assaulted his 44-year-old victim.
He used his mobile phone to record the assault, which he later admitted was for his viewing pleasure. He also insulted the victim by calling her a "wanton woman" in Mandarin.
Court papers said that Lim left the flat only about three hours later after the victim's daughter had woken up and he was given more money.
The victim then called the police. Three days later, Lim, who had left a pair of socks in the victim's kitchen, was arrested after police managed to trace the victim's belongings that he had sold at second-hand shops.
In the High Court yesterday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Sabrina Choo said a preventive detention of 20 years was appropriate due to Lim's lack of remorse and the fact that he had recommitted theft offences even after lengthy jail terms.
In 2001, Lim was convicted of housebreaking and theft by night, fraudulent possession of property and voluntarily causing hurt.
He was sentenced to six years corrective training and given three strokes of the cane. Lim also had previous theft and housebreaking convictions in 1990 and 1994.
The court also heard that Lim had alcohol dependency issues and could not hold on to a stable job. He also suffers from illnesses including diabetes and asthma.
Lim, in mitigation, told the court that he would repent. He added that he had received counselling and support from family members and apologised to the victim for hurting her.
Justice Tay Yong Kwang, who presided over the case, gave Lim the maximum caning sentence of 24 strokes.
But Justice Tay also told Lim to let the prison authorities know about his medical condition so that they could assess his suitability to be caned.