SINGAPORE: This sexual offender remembered his sentences well.
In the High Court on Monday, he corrected a prosecutor who stated that he had been given 24 strokes of the cane more than 20 years ago.
It was actually 28, said Bala Kuppusamy.
Yet after spending almost two decades in jail and getting some 48 strokes in all, Kuppusamy could not control his sexual urges or resist resorting to violence against women.
Within 41 days of his release last year from 15 years in prison, he terrorised seven women, using the darkness of night as a cover to rob and sexually assault them.
The women – including four who were below 21 years old – were kicked or punched as they were robbed of cash and personal belongings. Three of them were also sexually assaulted, including a 16-year-old Singaporean student.
Kuppusamy attacked four women during a span of eight days. But it will be a long time before the 48-year-old cleaner would have any opportunity to repeat his crime again.
The serial sex offender was sentenced to 42 years behind bars and 24 strokes of the cane after he pleaded guilty to nine charges in relation to various offences committed against four of his victims.
Six additional charges in relation to another three victims were also taken into consideration during the sentencing. His sentence is the longest one to be handed out by the courts so far for such offences.
Justice Tay Yong Kwang, who agreed with the prosecution’s submission, said: “Too many females had suffered because of this merciless, marauding monster for whom liberty is a licence to rob, rape or ruin the lives of innocent females. He must not be allowed to go on another nocturnal rampage of violent punching and vile penetration.”
Deputy public prosecutor Francis Ng had labelled Kuppusamy “a menace to society” and urged Justice Tay to impose an aggregate custodial term of between 40 and 45 years’ jail.
He pointed out that Kuppusamy’s offences were similar to rape on many points, and should be treated on par as such, in terms of severity.
For example, Kuppusamy approached the student for directions to Braddell Road. She agreed to show him as it was on her way home. He then dragged her into a forested area and sexually assaulted her. He ordered her to perform oral sex on him, which she did out of fear.
Kuppusamy, who was unrepresented, pleaded to be given another chance, claiming he would not run afoul of the law again.
Justice Tay, however, noted that it was obvious that Kuppusamy posed “a very grave danger to society, especially to our women folk”. He noted that Kuppusamy had told a prison psychologist that “using physical violence is the fastest avenue in attaining submission” from his victims.
Calling his conduct “atrocious”, Justice Tay said Kuppusamy “is not fit to live free in society. Even the maximum of 20 years preventive detention would be much too lenient for a predator like the accused here.”
Kuppusamy’s criminal history:
Nov 1987: Convicted of rape, robbery with hurt and two counts of snatch theft. Sentenced to 11 years’ jail and given 28 strokes of the cane.
Sept 8, 1992: Released from jail. Went on to commit second series of offences 45 days later on Oct 23.
July 16, 1993: Convicted of rape, carnal intercourse against the order of nature and robbery with hurt. Sentenced to 23 years jail and caned 24 times.
March 17, 2008: Released from custody. Within 41 days of his release, went on to commit the third series of offences, beginning on April 27.
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Channel News Asia
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