S'porean man, 27, gets jail for taking 27 upskirt videos of 18 women in 6 months

A 27-year-old Singaporean man was caught red-handed recording an upskirt video of a woman at Tai Seng MRT station at around 8:10am on May 14.

At the time of his offence, the man, Chong Yong Xuan, was travelling on the same ascending escalator as the victim towards the ground floor of 18 Tai Seng.

What happened

According to court documents seen by Mothership, on the day of the incident, the victim took the escalator after exiting Tai Seng MRT station via Exit C.

In response, Chong got on the same escalator and stood "a few steps behind" the victim.

He then put "his handphone on the top of his right thigh" and "placed his right foot on a step just in front of him".

Court documents stated that Chong did so because he wanted his phone's rear camera lens to face outwards and upwards towards the victim's "buttocks and genital region".

After getting into position, Chong pressed the video recording button on his phone.

Actions observed by witness

However, Chong's deeds caught the attention of a witness, who found his behaviour suspicious.

The witness subsequently confronted Chong and stopped him from leaving the vicinity.

After the witness informed the victim of his suspicions, the victim alerted the police at around 8:15am.

Initially denied taking upskirt video

When the victim and the witness questioned Chong on his actions, Chong "denied recording an upskirt video" of the victim at first.

However, later on, he changed his mind and admitted to doing so.

Chong then asked the victim to "let him off", but the victim refused.

Security officers subsequently escorted Chong to the guardhouse of 18 Tai Seng, where he was detained until police's arrival.

27 upskirt videos on his devices

Chong was arrested after police officers performed a check on his phone and found that he had recorded an upskirt video of the victim.

Besides the phone he used on May 14, the police also seized a laptop and another handphone belonging to Chong for investigations.

Further investigations subsequently revealed that Chong's devices contained a total of 27 upskirt videos, including that of the victim taken on May 14.

Amongst the videos, 19 were unique, whereas the rest were duplicates.

Inclusive of the victim, the videos pertained to a total of 18 different female victims.

Each of the videos "captured the victim's buttocks and genital region", which were covered by underwear, according to court documents.

Had been taking upskirt videos for months

Investigations also found that Chong recorded the upskirt videos above within six months, between Nov. 23, 2023 and May 14, 2024.

The videos were also taken at various locations in Singapore, with most of them being recorded in shopping malls, within or in the vicinity of MRT stations, or on MRT trains.

Court documents stated that for most of the videos, Chong's modus operandi involved "positioning himself behind the victims as they were standing on an ascending escalator".

He would then "place his handphone underneath their skirts or dresses to record the upskirt videos".

"[Chong] recorded the videos for his personal viewing and his own sexual gratification," read court documents.

Jailed for 4 months

For his wrongdoings, Chong was sentenced to four months in jail on Nov. 11 after pleading guilty to one charge of voyeurism, reported The Straits Times.

In his prosecution's address on sentence, Deputy Public Prosecutor Daniel Ong highlighted an aggravating factor in Chong's case was that he committed his sexual offences on the public transport network and vehicles.

"To do so would be to interfere with the public's routine and safe enjoyment of public service," contended Ong.

Ong also noted that Chong "would seek out victims who were wearing skirts and dresses" and was "persistent in his offending" until he was caught red-handed.

During court proceedings, Chong's lawyer asked for a lighter sentence, citing that Chong "was going through a stressful period in his life" when he committed the offences, reported ST.

The lawyer added that Chong "understood that his actions had brought unnecessary stress to his family and the victims" and was "remorseful" for his wrongdoings.

For every count of voyeurism, Chong could have been jailed for up to two years, fined, and caned.

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