68YO Fined $3,000 for Molesting a 55YO in West Mall Cinema

For some, a cinema theatre is more than a mere entertainment centre.

It’s an enclosed territory, a haven.

And really, it’s not difficult to understand why. Air-conditioner’s on; it’s dark; conversations are kept to a bare minimum. No chance of anyone stabbing or shooting you there and then too.

Truly, it’s an introvert’s dream.

But here’s the thing. Just like how condoms are only 99.99999% safe…

Cinema theatres will also be vulnerable to particular lapses once in a while as well.

Though in this case, it’s a rather severe violation.

A violation a certain 23-year-old NUS undergrad would be familiar with.

68YO Fined $3,000 for Molesting a 55YO in West Mall Cinema

It all happened on 11 August 2019, at a cinema in Bukit Batok last month.

According to TODAYonline, the 55-year-old victim, who cannot be named due to a court gag order, had gone to the cinema at around 2:30 p.m. with her daughter to watch a Tamil legal drama film, Nerkonda Paarvai. It’s worth noting that when the movie began, the theatre was relatively empty, with four empty seats to her left.

About half an hour into the movie, Cheo Chwee Thiam, a 68-year-old retiree, entered without purchasing a ticket and sat to the victim’s immediate left. He had entered the theatre when he noticed there were no staff members at the entrance.

While the movie was playing, Cheo reportedly leaned towards the victim, which made her feel uncomfortable. She then shifted away from him, placing her handbag in between them to prevent him from touching her.

Wait, why does this sound so familiar?

Thereafter, Cheo left the cinema during a 10-minute intermission (not sure why there’s an intermission) but returned to sit beside the victim again.

When the film continued, Cheo made his move. According to DPP Fernandez, the victim suddenly felt “something moving from her left outer thigh, and inching towards her inner thigh across her pants”.

The victim, locating Cheo’s hand lingering on her thigh, instantly pushed his hand away and shouted at him.

Cheo’s only response?

“Sorry, sorry,” he reportedly said, before running out of the theatre.

Oh, now it’s a little different.

A Woman’s Worst Nightmare

After the movie ended (around 1.5 hours later), the victim told the cinema’s duty manager about the incident.

The manager then called the police.

At around 10:30 p.m. that day, police officers patrolling the mall spotted Cheo at the taxi stand, and subsequently arrested him.

In court, Cheo asked District Judge Shawn Ho for “one last chance” and promised not to do it again.

He pleaded guilty to one charge of molestation. Another charge of trespassing into the cinema without a ticket was taken into consideration as well.

Cheo was eventually fined S$3,000 on yesterday (27 September 2019).

Maybe it’s because he has Microsoft Excel installed in his phone #justsaying

For using criminal force to outrage the victim’s modesty, he could’ve been jailed for up to two years, fined, caned or any combination of the three.

Moral Of The Story?

Well, don’t go around touching other people in cinema theatres, unless you want to donate $3,000 to the government.

And while we’re at it, no touching on transport vehicles too.

Not even if you’ve good grades, okay.