SINGAPORE, Oct 22 — A Chinese national was jailed for six days after pleading guilty to molesting a woman inside a lift at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) while his wife was with him.

According to The Straits Times, 39-year-old Hu Guisheng committed the offence in the early hours of March 8, after a night out at Club CeLaVi on the 57th floor of MBS.

Hu, who was in Singapore on a social visit pass, was staying at the hotel with his wife and friends. 

CCTV footage shown in court reportedly showed him holding his wife’s hand as they entered the lift.

The victim, whose identity is protected under a gag order, was also waiting for the lift. 

When the lift reached level one, she held the door open for the others to exit first. 

Hu allegedly waited until everyone else had stepped out before moving next to the victim, taking a quick glance at her buttocks and molesting her as he exited.

The victim reportedly tried to stop Hu and sought help from hotel security, who intercepted him at the lift lobby. 

Hu was arrested at 2.50am and released on bail later that day.

During sentencing, District Judge Janet Wang noted that Hu’s actions involved deliberate sexual exploitation. 

She said he had waited for others to leave the lift before molesting the victim, and the contact was not “fleeting”, indicating some degree of criminal force.

Hu’s lawyer, Peter Ong of Peter Ong Law Corporation, argued for a fine, saying Hu was remorseful and had offered S$5,000 (RM16,300) to the victim as compensation, along with a willingness to issue a public apology, both of which were rejected. 

The defence also highlighted that Hu’s business was on the brink of collapse.

The prosecution countered that Hu’s financial difficulties arose from his own actions and should not mitigate his sentence.

For outrage of modesty, an offender in Singapore can face up to three years’ jail, a fine, caning, or a combination of these punishments.