Bangladeshi man, 34, gets 12 years 10 months' jail & caning for sexually assaulting girlfriend outside her employer’s flat

A construction worker, who had been quietly observing his girlfriend’s movements, waited for a window of opportunity before confronting her.

This was after he had spotted her earlier with another man at the staircase.

The woman, a foreign domestic helper, then aged 33, had already returned to her employer’s flat after the other man left, unaware that her boyfriend was nearby.

What followed was a sudden confrontation that escalated into a violent sexual assault at a stairwell within the block.

Sentenced to 12 years 10 months jail, 12 strokes of the cane

On May 6, Bangladeshi national Hossain Mohammad Azim, 34, was sentenced to 12 years and 10 months’ jail and 12 strokes of the cane over the Dec. 14, 2021, incident.

He had earlier been convicted of aggravated sexual assault by penetration and criminal intimidation after a High Court trial in March 2026, and later admitted to a separate charge of attempting to interfere with investigations while in remand.

Background

According to court documents seen by Mothership, Azim and the victim had been in a relationship since 2018.

They had reportedly “exchanged vows” in a church, though it was not a legally recognised marriage.

The victim subsequently started seeing another man months before the Dec. 14, 2021 incident.

Azim made the discovery a few days before the assault on the woman.

He found out about the affair after he confronted the woman and checked her phone.

Waited after seeing her with another man

Azim travelled to the residential block after suspecting that the victim was still in contact with the man, according to court documents.

When he arrived, he saw both of them at a staircase near the lift lobby.

He did not confront them at that point.

Instead, he waited.

After the other man left, the victim went back into her employer’s flat.

Azim remained in the vicinity, waiting for her to reappear, and texted the victim to say he was at work.

Shortly after, completely unaware, the victim left the flat to buy lunch.

That was when she noticed that the door to the staircase landing directly opposite the unit was slightly open.

She looked through the glass panel and saw Azim standing behind the door.

Azim opened it and led the victim to another stairwell beside the lift lobby.

Assault in secluded stairwell

In the stairwell, Azim proceeded to slap and kick the victim.

Court documents stated that while she was still reeling from the attack, he sexually assaulted her.

He also threatened to “throw her down” the stairs during the confrontation.

The victim managed to escape and ran to a neighbouring unit, where she sought help.

Her employer, who was at home at the time, was later informed by Azim that the victim was at a neighbour’s unit.

The police were called.

Attempted to obstruct justice

Between April and June 2022, while remanded in Changi Prison, Azim sent emails instructing his brother to contact the victim.

He asked that messages be conveyed to her in an attempt to get her to change or withdraw her allegations.

Court rejected his version of account

During the trial, Azim denied the sexual assault and claimed the encounter was consensual, saying he had confronted her over infidelity.

He also denied making threats at the stairwell.

However, Justice Audrey Lim rejected his account, finding that he was not a credible witness.

The prosecution had sought 15 to 16 years’ jail and 12 strokes of the cane, arguing that the attack took place in a residential estate and significantly affected public safety.

The defence argued that the incident was a spontaneous reaction rather than a premeditated act.

It was also argued that Azim was the one who informed the employer of the victim’s whereabouts after the incident.