SINGAPORE: A PhD student who attempted to rape his former housemate after his repeated advances were rejected was sentenced to jail and caning on Monday (Dec 1).
Gao Xiong, a 31-year-old Chinese national, will be imprisoned for six years, six months and six weeks, and receive three strokes of the cane.
He pleaded guilty to four charges which include attempted rape and criminal trespass, with another three charges taken into consideration.
THE CASE
The court heard that Gao was completing his PhD studies in Singapore at the time of the offences.
The school was not named in court documents, and the victim’s identity is protected by gag order.
The victim was 21 at the time and was also completing her tertiary education in Singapore.
The pair used to be housemates until Gao left in end-August 2023.
In early October 2023, Gao began pursuing the victim romantically, texting her and asking her to go out with him.
The victim repeatedly rejected him and asked him to stop bothering her, to no avail.
As a result of the harassment, including times when Gao went to the unit to look for her, the victim stayed with her friend for a few days.
In October 2023, Gao again sought her at the unit and went to her room. The victim spoke to him only briefly and refused to engage, saying she would call the police.
Both the victim and the tenancy agent who had already told Gao not to go to the unit reported the trespass.
Gao left the unit when the police arrived, but remained at a nearby bus stop and continued texting the victim, saying he was waiting for her there.
He tried to call her, and continued harassing the victim into the wee hours of the next day.
The victim did not respond and took urgent leave from work the next day, remaining in the unit and mostly staying in her room.
Gao returned the next day. He rang the doorbell and was let in by a Burmese tenant.
