S'pore police explains why no further action taken when woman in Mindef sexual assault case lodged report in 2021

There was a recent civil suit involving two former Mindef colleagues.

The woman filed a civil suit against the man for battery, seeking compensation for damages caused after the man sexually assaulted her.

She did so as the police did not take further action against the man, following the filing of a report in 2021.

2021 police report

After the woman made a police report in 2021 about a sexual assault by her colleague in the Ministry of Defence (Mindef), the police started investigations immediately, and determined that the evidence was not sufficient for criminal prosecution.

As a result, they did not take further action, the police said in response to Mothership queries.

The assault happened in 2016, months after the woman ended an on-and-off relationship with her then-colleague.

The police told her eleven months after she made the report that they would not take further action, prompting her to file a civil suit against the man for battery in July 2022, according to a court judgment dated May 23, 2025.

She won the case and was awarded S$45,000 in general damages and S$8,697.39 in special damages, both with interest.

The police's action

The police told Mothership that, in response to the woman's report, they interviewed several witnesses and took the statements of all parties who were brought to their attention at the time.

They said they considered the facts and circumstances of the case, including the available evidence, and the nature of the interactions and the relationship between the man and the woman.

Then, in consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), the police assessed that a criminal case could not be made out against the man.

The police said they also thoroughly investigated two other police reports involving the woman in separate incidents, and decided not to take further action against the involved parties. The AGC was also consulted in this decision.

According to the police, when they received the woman's report, they immediately assigned a Police Victim Care Officer who provided her with advice and support.

Evidence required for prosecution

The police did not take further action regarding the sexual assault because "the evidential threshold for criminal prosecution was not met".

The police explained that legal thresholds for pursuing criminal charges are significantly higher than those for civil proceedings.

While civil cases are "judged on a balance of probabilities", criminal cases "require proof beyond a reasonable doubt".

The police added that they take all reports of sexual assault seriously and investigate them thoroughly.

"The Police are committed to ensuring that investigations are thorough and objective, and fair to both the alleged victim as well as the defendant," they said.

Top image from Canva