A Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) lieutenant-colonel who trespassed into the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) dormitory to molest a 21-year-old student in 2022 pleaded guilty on Jan. 10, 2024, as reported by The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao.
Neo Aik Chiao, 47, was charged with one count of using criminal force with the intent to outrage modesty and another count of criminal trespassing.
Another count of criminal trespassing may be taken into consideration during Neo's sentencing, which is currently slated to take place on Feb. 21.
Neo, who was a helicopter pilot, was suspended from all military duties by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) following the incident.
The incident occurred at around 2am at an NTU dormitory on a floor meant for female students exclusively.
A gag order has been placed on the victim and the specific location of the incident.
What happened
The student had been using her phone in her room when she heard someone knocking on the door. Before she could react, Neo entered the room without asking for her permission and locked the door.
He sat on her bed and asked for water, saying that he had climbed many stairs and felt thirsty.
The student replied that there was a drinking fountain outside where Neo could get water from.
Neo did not leave the room but continued to chat with the woman, asking her directions to other halls in NTU and personal questions such as where she was from.
He then asked her if she wanted to “accompany” him for S$1,000 as a way to earn some extra income.
Realising that Neo was making a sexual request, the student said that she did not need the extra money and asked him to leave the room.
Neo ignored her and instead touched her left thigh.
The student repeated her request again, but Neo placed his hands on her shoulders and repeated his sexual proposition. He also said that the door was locked and he could not open it.
She then took out her phone to call a friend for help, and Neo left after seeing this.
The student called campus security and filed a police report.
The defence said Neo had planned to visit his godfather's home instead of NTU
Neo's lawyers said that Neo was intoxicated from drinking beer before the incident happened and had ended up at NTU instead of his godfather's home.
His godfather had passed away on Jun. 30, 2022, and Neo had planned to go to his godfather's home to seek solace.
The lawyers also said that as an NTU alumnus, Neo saw the university as “a place of fond memories and familiarity”.
An Institute of Mental Health (IMH) report stated that Neo was not unsound of mind at the time of the offence but that his intoxication might have had a partial contributory link to his loss of restraint.
Sentencing scheduled for Feb. 21, 2024
The prosecutor asked the judge to sentence Neo to 12 weeks in jail, while the defence argued that he should be fined around S$10,000 instead because it was out-of-character for Neo and a one-off incident.
For criminal trespass, Neo can be jailed for up to three months, fined up to $1,500, or both. He can also be jailed for up to two years, fined, caned, or a combination of punishments for using criminal force intending to outrage modesty.
Neo will be sentenced on Feb. 21, 2024.
Top image via NTU website and NTU's Instagram