Police have arrested a 16 year-old youth who is believed to be responsible for several cases of Outrage of Modesty involving young female victims in the Tampines Housing Estate area.

Since late October 2009, several cases of Outrage of Modesty in the Tampines area involving females victims aged between 9 and 12 years old, were reported to the Police. In all the cases, the suspect struck at lone female victims while they were alone in the lift.

Officers from Bedok Police Division studied the cases and analysed the crime patterns of the suspect. The officers conducted numerous stake outs and extensive enquiries in an attempt to bring the suspect to justice. As a preventive measure, residents in the area were also alerted to the menace via crime alerts and crime prevention advisories.

On 15 Jan 2010 at about 6.10pm, officers who were staking out in the vicinity of Tampines St 12 spotted a suspect matching the description given by the victims loitering at the void deck of Blk 228 Tampines St 22. The officers moved in quickly and arrested him after an interview.

The suspect will be charged in Court 26 on 16 January 2009 for the offence of Outrage of Modesty under Section 354 (1) of the Penal Code, Chapter 224. If convicted, he may be jailed up to 2 years and will also be liable to caning.

Commander of Bedok Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Teo Chun Chin, commended his officers for their good ground work and investigative skills which led to the arrest of the suspect.