Drunk Indian-origin singer fined for assaulting female crew member in SingaporeA 42-year-old Indian-origin singer was fined 3000 Singaporean dollars for assaulting a female freelance production crew member in a drunken stupor after a show at the Mediacorp Campus in Singapore. Sivabalan Siva Prasad Menon faced two other charges, including another assault charge, during sentencing.
The victim had reported to work at the Campus at around 11 am to work on the production of the show where Menon was to perform on the day of the incident.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Grace Teo disclosed during the court hearing that the incident had occurred after Menon had consumed up to 15 cups of whiskey and became intoxicated.
The victim and a male friend were waiting for a lift in basement 1 of the campus after the show ended at 12:20 am when Menon walked out and grabbed the victim by her jaw, kissing her cheek, disclosed Teo.
The victim attempted to pull away prompting her friend to intervene and asked Sivabalan to leave. They also noticed that the accused, who left soon after, reeked of alcohol.
Teo told the court that the victim cried and hyperventilated because she felt stressed by the incident. Later that day, she alerted the police.
Defense lawyer Kanthan Raghvendra emphasised that this was Menon’s first encounter with the law and that the contact between Menon and the victim was fleeting, lasting for less than 3 seconds. Menon was fined on February 5.
To protect the victim’s identity a gag order has been placed. The the exact details of the incident and further details about the show were not disclosed.
For molestation, an offender can be jailed for up to three years, fined, caned, or receive any combination of such punishments.