SINGAPORE: Yasodhaa Balakrishnan was heading down the escalator at Outram Park MRT station on Sept 18, 2025 when she saw a man holding his phone at an awkwardly low angle.
She suspected that he was filming a female commuter in front of him, so she observed him when they boarded the train together, and later alerted MRT staff.
When he was detained, another commuter Tan Li Nian came forward as a witness. She had also noticed the man’s suspicious behaviour and noticed him filming several other women on the train.
On Thursday (April 30), Yasodhaa, 39, and Tan, 32, were presented the SaferSG Public Spiritedness Award (PSA) by the Singapore Police Force’s Public Transport Security Command (TransCom) for their bravery in nabbing a sex offender.
According to the police annual physical crime statistics released in February, cases of molestation in residential premises, on public transport networks and at public entertainment outlets rose.
On April 27, the police launched a year-long campaign titled “Don’t be a Bystander! SPOT it. Report it”, to encourage witnesses to stay vigilant and inform the authorities when they see a sex crime being committed.
The SPOT protocol stands for Spot it, Protect the victim (and oneself), Observe key details, and Tell the police.
On April 30, Yasodhaa recalled how she confronted the man in the train, demanding that he show her his photo gallery.
When he refused, she alerted an SBS Transit customer service officer Jansen Heng, who was stationed in the train. He informed staff at Clarke Quay station, and the police were called in.
