SINGAPORE: A Singapore Management University student on trial for molesting a woman during an overnight study session was grilled by the prosecutor about consent on Tuesday , as the woman made a surprise showing to attend the hearing.
The woman in the case, who is not an SMU student, turned up for the hearing on Tuesday morning and was allowed to stay after a brief stand-down where parties discussed whether her presence might be an issue.District Judge Sharmila Sripathy allowed her to stay after the prosecutor said he had no objections, and she stayed in the hearing for the entire time Lee was being cross-examined.
When Mr Chong said the only way to be certain if someone consents to an act is to ask them, Lee said"well, it depends". He added that it depends on the place he was asked and the environment he was in. "On the previous occasion, pushed your hand away when you poked her," said Mr Chong."So she didn't want you to even poke her. But you are telling us now that when you put your feet on her thighs - which is a far more intrusive act, she wanted that to continue?""Is that believable, Mr Lee?" asked Mr Chong.Mr Chong pointed out that this detail was not in the statement he gave to the police soon after the incident, when his memory was freshest in his mind.
"You were 22. By the laws of the country, you would be an adult. You had served your National Service. You were in fact an officer. So how can it be that you were 'young and scared'?" asked Mr Chong. "You took the words ... to mean she was OK with you tickling her," said Mr Chong."When testified, she didn't mention that you asked her what happens if you tickle her."
On Mr Chong's direction, Lee read out his answer in the statement, which said that Lee just wanted to"release" and that it was a"moment of lust". "You said - 'To me, her stop didn't mean stop. I felt like she wanted me to carry on and I took it that she was fine with my advances'," said Mr Chong."Now Mr Lee, what's the ordinary meaning of the word stop?""Pause, cease, not continue, right? That's the ordinary meaning of the word 'stop', right?" asked Mr Chong.
Erm. We have to consider the possibility that this is a compulsion caused by warped definition of sexuality during puberty. I'm a tad annoyed to see ppl just believing he is some pervert or the bogeyman that ppl use to scare