In a bizarre twist of events, a 24-year-old woman, Tan Qiu Yan, found herself sentenced to one week in jail after confessing to falsely accusing an innocent man of molestation.
Her motive? To protect her boyfriend, Tan Jek He, from the repercussions of assaulting the man he thought was staring at her.
Yah, it’s almost like a soap opera gone wrong.
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How it Happened
On 11 August 2023, when Tan Qiu Yan and Tan Jek He were walking along Lavender Street, an altercation erupted when Tan Jek He perceived a man staring at his girlfriend.
In a fit of rage, he confronted the man and physically assaulted him, causing a laceration on the victim’s lower jaw.
The victim, innocent of any wrongdoing, managed to get away. He called friends for help and met Tan Jek He once again at Kitchener Complex, setting the stage for a series of unfortunate events.
When the police arrived at Kitchener Complex, Tan Qiu Yan concocted a false narrative, claiming that the victim had touched her buttock, justifying her boyfriend’s violent response.
Both Tan Qiu Yan and Tan Jek He stuck to this fabricated story, creating a web of lies to shield the latter from legal consequences.
The couple’s motive was rooted in Tan Jek He’s recent release from prison, and they feared legal ramifications for his assault.
I mean…if you don’t want to go back, don’t do bad right?
In a twisted turn of events, Tan Qiu Yan insisted to the police that the victim had molested her.
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Despite the victim’s efforts to deny the accusations, the couple’s coordinated remarks made their false narrative more convincing in the eyes of law enforcement.
The potential harm to the victim was significant, as the false allegations could have led to his arrest and further interrogation.
Fortunately, police investigations, including the review of CCTV footage, revealed the truth. CCTV was the MVP in this case.
The footage contradicted the couple’s claims, showing no contact between the victim and Tan Qiu Yan. The revelation spared the victim from unnecessary legal complications, exposing the couple’s deceit.
What Happened After?
In court, Tan Qiu Yan pleaded guilty to giving false information to a public servant and will be given a sentence of one to two weeks.
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Deputy Public Prosecutor Vincent Ong highlighted the potential harm caused by their lie, emphasizing the fortunate revelation of the truth through CCTV footage.
Despite Tan Qiu Yan’s plea for leniency due to her four-month pregnancy, District Judge Paul Chan deemed it irrelevant to her sentencing, stating that necessary medical attention could be provided during her short jail term.
Jek He, on the other hand, has yet to receive his sentence but will be placed and charged in court on March 2024.
According to section 203 of the Penal Code, if someone were to purposefully give the police false information on a crime that has been committed, they can be sentenced to a jail term of up to 2 years, a fine, or both.
Similarly, under section 352 of the Penal Code, if a person were to assault a civilian when there was no grave and sudden provocation, they be charged imprisonment for up to 3 months or a fine of up to $1,500, or both.
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Would you be jailed for being half-naked in public? Well, the answer will shock you. Seriously. Watch this to the end and you'll understand:
