A Singapore Police Force (SPF) senior investigation officer Lee Sze Chiat, 39, sexually exploited two women suspected to be sex workers while they were in custody.

According to court documents, Lee pleaded guilty to one charge of molesting a female suspect and another of engaging in conduct prejudice to the good order and discipline by engaging in sexual activity with a female detainee in police custody.

He was sentenced to 12 months' in jail, and one stroke of the cane, on Nov. 19, 2019.

Asked first suspect to massage him, caressed her breasts

On Dec. 6, 2017, the two suspects, 28 and 29, who are unnamed due to a gag order, were arrested on the suspicion that they had been providing paid sexual services.

The first suspect was escorted by Lee to an interview room at about 11pm, after he offered to assist the investigative team in conducting some investigative work.

Throughout the incident, the suspect's hands were cuffed.

After he closed the door, the accused began interviewing her, before asking the suspect twice, to give him a massage.

While she initially refused, Lee then proceeded to lock the door, and told her that there were no CCTV cameras in the room.

Lee then presented his back to her, asking her to massage his back.

Although she was reluctant, she complied as she did not want to turn down a police officer's request.

She proceeded to squeeze Lee's shoulders a few times before stopping, and told him that she was unable to carry on as her hands were cuffed.

He began caressing her breasts without her consent, and pulled her hands, placing them on his shorts over his private parts, asking the suspect to provide him with "services".

She pulled her hands away, shocked that Lee would make such a request in a police station.

Following this, he pulled the collar of her shirt and peeked at her breasts.

Made second suspect pleasure him

After the first interview concluded at about 11:56pm, Lee took over custody of the second suspect from another investigative officer.

During the interview with the second suspect, Lee told her to approach him and masturbate him.

She was reluctant, but ultimately agreed as she did not want to turn down a police officer's request.

She then used her hand to masturbate him.

Afterwards, Lee asked her to fellate him, and again, despite her reluctance, she complied.

According to court documents, she performed the sexual act for about two to three minutes, before he stopped and masturbated in front of her, ejaculating onto the wall of the interview room.

He later cleaned the wall with a piece of tissue paper.

A few days after the incidents, the first suspect told an investigative officer about her encounter with the accused, and was advised to report the matter formally to the police, which she did, on Dec. 13, 2017.

According to CNA, the prosecution had asked for at least 13 months' jail and one stroke of the cane, and called this case "disquieting".

"Despite his oath to uphold the law, the accused wilfully chose to flout it while he was carrying out duties in his capacity as a police officer and in the premises of police headquarters," the prosecution argued, as reported by CNA.

In response to CNA's queries, SPF stated that Lee had been "interdicted from service" since Dec. 26, 2017.

They also added that the offence "is an isolated case and does not represent the professional and disciplined conduct" of the rest of the SPF.

For using criminal force to outrage a woman's modesty, Lee could have been jailed for up to two years, fined, caned or given any combination of such penalties.

Top image via Julia Yeo