After he was caught taking an upskirt video of a woman at an MRT station, a polytechnic student asked the judge for a gag order to protect his identity.

However, Khai Jun Wei's request was denied, according to CNA.

For one charge of insulting the modesty of 17 women, the 19-year-old was sentenced to 21 months' probation on Nov. 4.

Filmed 17 different women

Court documents showed that on Sept. 8, 2018, at around 10:30pm, Khai was caught taking an upskirt video of a woman at Braddell MRT station.

A 31-year-old man saw the act, and confronted him. Khai admitted to taking the video.

He was escorted by the man and the victim to the MRT control station, where the incident was reported to the police.

On his phone, Khai had saved a video of the victim as well as videos of other victims.

House was raided

Investigations and a subsequent raid on his house found that Khai had filmed 16 more upskirt videos of other women.

The videos were taken in various MRT stations across Singapore between July 31 and Sep. 8 last year.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Jarret Huang was cited by CNA as saying Khai had admitted to taking the videos despite knowing it was wrong.

Khai also admitted that he had kept the videos for "his viewing pleasure".

Voyeuristic disorder

While the prosecution did not object to probation for Khai, it sought a longer term of intensive probation or a higher bond to be furnished by the parents.

This was because a psychiatric report had assessed that he had a moderate-to-high propensity for re-offending.

According to CNA, the report found that Khai met diagnostic criteria for a voyeuristic disorder.

Those diagnosed with such a disorder experience recurrent sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviours involving observing an unsuspecting person who is naked, disrobing or engaging in sexual activity.

The report also said that Khai was at the highest risk of re-offending during periods of increased stress.

Begged the victim

CNA reported that Khai -- who was unrepresented -- told the court that he had tried to convince the victim not to report the incident to the police.

"I went down on my knees, I did beg her not to go to the police, but the guy who caught me and the victim decided to inform Transcom which is the police in the MRT."

He added that he later thanked the person who had caught him:

"I know that if he (hadn't) caught me, I would've continued in my mistakes and actions."

Female classmates

Khai also asked the judge for a gag order on his identity.

He reasoned that were his identity to be exposed, female classmates would feel "distressed, discomfort, or even threatened" by the knowledge that a sexual offender sat in the class.

Furthermore, Khai did not want to put his parents under an "unwanted spotlight" due to his actions.

He was quoted by CNA as saying:

"I feel being socially stigmatised is a far harsher sentence than probation or reformative training."

In reply, Judge May Mesenas said "this is one of the consequences of your own doing, isn't it?"

She agreed with the prosecution's objection to the request.

Change for the better

Mesenas reminded Khai that he was still young and had opportunities to change for the better.

She also urged the 19-year-old to remain crime-free, or risk having his probation revoked and possibly face a sentence of reformative training.

Khai's terms of probation mean that he will have to follow 10pm to 6am curfew, perform 120 hours of community service, and attend offence-specific treatment.

He will also be prohibited from using electronic devices with camera functions, unless he is assessed to be suitable to use them, while his parents furnished a S$5,000 bond to ensure his good behaviour.

According to CNA, Mesenas told Khai not to disappoint his parents and to stick to the promises he had made.

For insulting the modesty of a woman, he could have been jailed for up to a year, fined or both.

Top image by Warren Wong via Unsplash