Woman fined $2,500 for molesting female employee at night club

A woman has been fined $2,500 after molesting a female worker in a night club.

Sonik Archana Susheel, 32, an Indian national, pleaded guilty to outrage of modesty on Thursday (Oct 29).

According to court documents seen by AsiaOne, Sonik visited the night club on March 13, at around 11pm after being invited by her friend.

She had a drink before subsequently moving to the dance floor.

The victim, whose identity is protected by a gag order, was working as a bottle girl that night, serving alcohol to tables.

At about 12.45am on March 14, the 19-year-old victim was assigned to walk around the nightspot and deliver bottles while Sonik was dancing on the middle of the floor.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Yohanes Ng said she was dancing erratically when the victim nearly collided into her, according to The Straits Times.

Sonik then touched the victim's buttocks and pushed her stomach area before showing her the middle finger, CNA reported.

Court documents stated that the entire interaction lasted no longer than five seconds, as Sonik continued dancing before walking away.

The distressed victim turned to the night club's bouncer's and was instructed by her superiors to rest, according to The Straits Times.

Sonik was arrested soon after.

The court heard that the offence was not premeditated.

Nonetheless, the victim, who had already received voluntary compensation of $1,500 from Sonik asked for additional compensation, according to CNA.

She claimed that she was likely fired from the job as a result of the trouble caused by this incident, adding that she had lost around six months of income, equivalent to about $18,000.

Sonik's lawyer, Ariffin Sha, said that the voluntary compensation paid covered the emotional harm suffered by the victim.

He added that while he has sympathy for the victim's claim for losses, he is uncertain if a clear link can be established between her loss of job and the offence.

Principal District Judge Lee Lit Cheng said there was insufficient evidence for the court to determine the proper compensation amount, if any, to be ordered and recommended dealing with this matter in a different forum.

For outrage of modesty, the offender could have been jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.

Women are exempted from caning.

laili.abdeen@asiaone.com

一名女子因在夜总会猥亵女员工而被罚款 2500 美元。

32岁的印度公民索尼克·阿查纳·苏希尔于周四（10月29日）承认犯有猥亵罪。

据 AsiaOne 看到的法庭文件显示，Sonik 在朋友的邀请下，于 3 月 13 日晚上 11 点左右光顾了这家夜总会。

她喝了一杯酒，然后走到舞池中央跳舞。

受害者的身份受到禁言令保护，事发当晚她是一名酒水服务员，负责为餐桌上的客人倒酒。

3 月 14 日凌晨 12 点 45 分左右，这名 19 岁的受害者被安排在夜总会里走动并递送酒瓶，而索尼克则在舞池中央跳舞。

据《海峡时报》报道，副检察官吴耀汉表示，受害者当时跳舞动作不稳，差点撞到她。

据中央社报道，索尼克随后触摸了受害者的臀部，并推了她的腹部，然后向她竖起了中指。

法庭文件显示，整个互动过程不超过五秒钟，索尼克随后继续跳舞，然后走开了。

据《海峡时报》报道，情绪激动的受害者向夜总会的保安求助，她的上级指示她休息。

索尼克随后被捕。

法庭获悉，该犯罪行为并非预谋。

据 CNA 报道，尽管受害者已经从 Sonik 那里获得了 1500 美元的自愿赔偿，但她仍然要求额外的赔偿。

她声称，由于这起事件造成的麻烦，她很可能被解雇了，并补充说，她损失了大约六个月的收入，相当于约 18,000 美元。

索尼克的律师阿里芬·沙表示，支付的自愿赔偿金涵盖了受害者遭受的精神伤害。

他补充说，虽然他同情受害者提出的损失索赔，但他不确定能否在她失业和犯罪之间建立明确的联系。

首席地方法官李立成表示，没有足够的证据让法庭确定是否需要赔偿以及赔偿金额，并建议在其他法庭处理此事。

对于猥亵行为，犯罪者可能被判处最高三年监禁、罚款或两者并罚。

妇女免于鞭笞。

laili.abdeen@asiaone.com