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Renovation Man Given 13 Strokes of Cane and 12-Year Sentence for Assault

 



A 49-year-old renovation contractor, Koh Lee Hwa, a Singapore permanent resident, was sentenced on November 26 to 12 years and three weeks in jail and 13 strokes of the cane for sexually assaulting and raping a woman whom he had contacted to carry out repair work in her home.

The Crime and Conviction

The crime occurred between 11:40 am and 12:40 pm on August 23, 2021, after the victim contacted Koh via WhatsApp to fix a faulty light and switch. Koh had previously renovated the flat in 2015.

  • Timeline of Assault: While Koh was working on the main circuit switchboard, the woman came out of the master bedroom. Koh suddenly pulled her towards him and hugged her without consent. Shocked, she pushed him away and retreated to the bedroom, immediately texting two friends that she was "scared."

  • The Rape: A few minutes later, Koh told her he was done and asked her to check the switches. When she checked the light in the master bedroom toilet, Koh pushed her against the dressing table and forced another hug. Despite her pleas to stop, he sexually assaulted and raped her on her bed.

  • Conviction: High Court Judge Mavis Chionh found Koh guilty of all four charges (one count of rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration, and two counts of outrage of modesty) on October 28. The judge found the woman's testimony to be "unusually convincing" and vividly clear, noting she gave a reasonable explanation for not fleeing immediately—she was shocked, scared, and only wanted Koh to "quickly complete the repair works and leave."

Judge Slams Defense Arguments

Koh claimed trial and put forth several arguments that Justice Chionh deemed "devoid of merit":

  • Consensual Claim: Koh insisted he was a "righteous and upright person" and claimed the woman initiated the contact by pulling his arm, leading to consensual sex.

  • Duration Argument: He argued the sexual encounter was not rape because it lasted "slightly over 10 minutes," which he claimed was the "standard" length of time for sex between him and his wife.

  • "Money" Claim: Koh claimed the woman said the single word "money" as he was leaving, insinuating she was trying to extort him.

Justice Chionh dismissed these claims, noting that Koh himself did not claim to have received any previous sexual indication from the woman. The judge highlighted that Koh's claim that the encounter was "pleasurable" was completely inconsistent with the evidence of the victim's three friends, who testified that she appeared "dazed, unresponsive, 'frozen', and unable to speak coherently" when they visited soon after the incident.

Sentencing and Appeal

In sentencing, Justice Chionh emphasized that Koh had violated the victim's home, raping her on her bed, a place that should have been a secure sanctuary.

After the sentence was passed, Koh's lawyer, Mr. Ariffin Sha, informed the court that Koh intended to file an appeal in person, though the legal team had no instructions to represent him further. Koh's daughter posted bail of $80,000 for her father, who will be filing the appeal while in custody.

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Location: Singapore

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