Bangladeshi construction supervisor who raped tourist in Geylang gets 11 years' jail, 9 strokes of cane

A 32-year-old Bangladeshi construction supervisor, Hossian Anowar, was sentenced yesterday (July 19) to 11 years’ jail and nine strokes of the cane for raping a 46-year-old Chinese tourist who was in Singapore visiting her husband. 

It was earlier reported that the incident happened on Feb 29, 2016, when the victim was staying in a room at Lorong 8, Geylang, rented by her husband, while the accused was a co-tenant there.

Hossan initially denied raping the woman, and claimed that he had paid her for sex, but later pleaded guilty on his second day of trial, after the victim was cross-examined on the stand. 

He had knocked on the couple’s door while the victim’s husband was away at work, clad only in underwear and holding a toothbrush.

Thinking that he wanted toothpaste, the victim went to her toilet to retrieve it, but was trapped there by Hossain who latched the door and raped her.

Although she initially shouted for help, she stopped out of fear for her life, as he glared at her fiercely, while placing a finger on his lips. 

She even tried to get the accused to stop by tracing the number ’21’ on his palm, in order to tell him that she had a 21-year-old son in China, reports Shin Min Daily News. 

After first assault, the victim tried escaping, but was pulled to the accused’s room, where she was raped again. 

The victim cried and called her husband subsequently, confessing that she had been raped. 

The accused was arrested the same night upon returning to his room.

The prosecution sought at least 12 years jail and nine strokes of the cane for the accused, submitting statements from the victim and her husband which cited the damage done by the crime.

In the statements, the victim was said to have been ‘shattered’ by the ordeal, and has become withdrawn and paranoid, even installing surveillance cameras at home after returning to China. 

The victim also said that she thinks her husband blames her for not fighting back harder:

“Even though he didn’t say anything anymore, he was cold towards me.”

The husband, who had quit his job in Singapore, admitted that it was wrong of him to question his wife and that he should support her, but said he felt ‘disgusted’ when they are physically intimate.

The couple also kept the news from their son and relatives when they returned to Singapore for trial.

She said that she would be ‘heartbroken’ if her son knew that she was a victim of rape:

“I felt disgusting and shamed. 

“I tell myself that I am not at fault but I cannot erase the feeling.”