S'pore PR, 42, uses hidden cam to film female tenant in toilet, power bank comes loose, leads to his arrest

A Malaysian man, who sublet his rental flat in Singapore, secretly filmed his female tenant with a mini hidden camera installed in the bathroom.

When the camera's battery power started to wane, he attached a power bank to extend its usage.

However, he got caught as a result when the victim discovered the power bank hanging loosely under the sink.

Jason Zhang (transliteration), 42, faced three charges, including voyeurism and obstruction of justice, reported Shin Min Daily News.

The Singapore permanent resident pleaded guilty to one charge on Apr. 2 and was sentenced to 18 weeks' jail.

The other charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

Used Blu Tack to secure camera

Zhang and his wife rented a Housing & Development Board (HDB) flat and sublet rooms to two men and two women.

On Oct. 20, 2023, Zhang ordered a mini camera and a memory card.

After receiving the equipment, he hid the camera in the shared bathroom in November 2023.

He typically used Blu Tack to attach the camera under a shelf or placed it in a transparent plastic box hidden at the bottom of the shelf, aiming the camera at the washbasin, toilet, or shower area.

He would usually hide the camera in the toilet between 6pm and 7pm when the female tenant he targeted was coming home from work.

Around 9pm, Zhang would retrieve the camera, download the video of the female tenant, and delete the footage of the other three tenants.

In February 2024, Zhang noticed that the camera's battery power was waning, so he added a power bank.

To conceal the power bank, he taped it underneath the washbasin.

Tenant discovers the camera

At around 9pm on Apr. 25, 2024, when the victim entered the bathroom, she noticed the power bank hanging underneath the washbasin.

This led her to discover the hidden camera.

She checked the contents of the memory card on a computer and was shocked when she saw that she had been secretly filmed.

She deleted the videos and placed the camera and power bank in the kitchen.

Caught and arrested

Around 10pm that same night, Zhang returned home and realised his actions had been uncovered.

He immediately deleted all the secretly recorded videos from his computer.

Zhang was later arrested on Apr. 30, and police found six indecent videos on his memory card and phone.

Investigations revealed that over a span of five months, Zhang had hidden the camera to secretly record the tenant on six occasions.

The length of the videos ranged from 10 to 30 minutes.

In court, his wife pleaded for leniency, describing him as a good husband.

However, the prosecutor sought an 18-week prison sentence.

Top photos from Shin Min Daily News