Singapore: In a recent development in Singapore, an Indian national, Chinnaiah Karthik, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison along with 12 strokes of the cane for the 2019 rape of a 23-year-old university student.
The Brutal Assault
Chinnaiah Karthik, a 26-year-old cleaner, pleaded guilty to the charge of aggravated rape in a court hearing on Friday. This charge stems from his vicious assault on the victim, which occurred around 1:30 am on May 4, 2019, in Kranji, a northwestern suburb of Singapore.
The Victim’s Harrowing Night
The victim found herself in Kranji late at night due to a mix-up with her train route as she was returning to her campus. While she was on a call with her boyfriend, she walked for 10 to 15 minutes without paying much attention to her surroundings.
Karthik approached her, inquiring if she was okay. Annoyed, the victim asked him to leave her alone and attempted to return to the MRT station. However, Karthik grabbed her arm and forcibly led her away from the station, along Turf Club Avenue.
Sensing that he was following her, the victim informed her boyfriend, who advised her to find an open area and try to hail a taxi. As she was crossing the road, Karthik caught up with her at the road divider, assaulted her, and continued to pummel her.
The victim’s boyfriend, hearing her cries and the commotion, contacted her hall mate, who then called the police. The police arrived at around 2:05 am after she had walked back to the main road and sat there, sobbing.
The Assault and Escape
Karthik placed the victim in a headlock under his arm and dragged her into a nearby forested area. He brutally pinned her down by the neck as he proceeded to rape her.
After the attack, Karthik managed to escape, while the victim remained on the main road until the police arrived.
DNA Evidence Leads to Arrest
Singaporean police officers initiated investigations in the vicinity, including nearby dormitories and housing areas, ultimately apprehending Karthik the day after the incident. His DNA samples were discovered on the victim’s clothing and body.
Legal Proceedings
Karthik was initially remanded at the Institute of Mental Health following a psychiatric evaluation, which found him unfit to stand trial. On August 1, 2022, he received a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.
However, after a reassessment conducted on January 16, 2023, he was declared fit to plead.
Lasting Effects on the Victim
Deputy Public Prosecutors informed the court that, even after four years, the victim continues to suffer from the emotional and psychological consequences of the horrifying incident.
