Singapore MD to get 12 strokes of cane, 14.5 years in jail for rape of woman he met at work

In its sentence, the Singapore High Court highlighted the victim’s vulnerability and the convicted senior executive's exploitation of her condition. (AI-generated image)

The managing director of a company in Singapore has been sentenced to 14.5 years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane after raping a woman he met through work, Straits Times reported.

The offender, Jasper Lee Loong Kuan, 37, was found guilty on February 10 and sentenced on March 20 after a trial. Lee had denied the charge, claiming the sexual encounter was consensual or that he mistakenly believed consent had been given. The court rejected his defence, finding that the victim was in a state of near-unconsciousness due to alcohol and lacked the capacity to consent.

According to the evidence, Lee was a client of the company where the woman worked as a customer service officer. They had exchanged messages after discovering they shared the same birthday and agreed to celebrate with dinner at VivoCity on September 15, 2021—the first time they met in person. During the evening, they consumed multiple bottles of red wine together. CCTV footage from the restaurant and mall showed the woman exhibiting clear signs of intoxication, including disorientation and an unsteady gait.

When the woman said she wanted to go home, Lee offered to drive her. Dashcam audio recorded her vomiting and slurring her words during the journey. CCTV footage showed Lee physically supporting her at the void deck and in the lift to her flat. The victim testified that she drifted in and out of consciousness on her bed and later realised she was naked with Lee on top of her. She tried to resist but was too weak to do so and lost consciousness again. Lee left the flat shortly before 10 pm, Straits Times reported.

Police officers who arrived in response to her call found her naked and in severe emotional distress. Medical examinations later detected Lee’s semen, while blood tests showed an extremely high alcohol level, with expert testimony confirming she was incapable of consenting to sex at the time.

In its sentence, the Singapore High Court highlighted the victim’s vulnerability and Lee’s exploitation of her condition. Lee has indicated that he intends to appeal and was granted bail.