Bala Kuppusamy, who has spent most of the past 20 years in prison, was also ordered to be caned 24 times. It is the third time he will be getting the maximum number of strokes allowed under the law.

The serial predator had been to prison twice for rape, in 1987 and 1993. Both times, he went back to assaulting women within weeks of his release.

In his latest crime spree, between April 27 and June 10 last year, he targeted women who were walking alone, under the cover of night.

He pummelled victims, aged 16 to 34, into submission and demand that they hand over their money.

In some cases, he dragged the woman to secluded spots and sexually assaulted them.

Yesterday, he pleaded guilty to nine charges involving four victims -- three counts of robbery with hurt, four counts of sexual assault and two counts of aggravated molestation. Six other charges were taken into consideration.

Describing Bala as a "menace to society", Deputy Public Prosecutor Francis Ng yesterday urged the High Court to lock him away for 40 to 45 years so that "no one else should have to suffer at his hands".

Justice Tay Yong Kwang noted Bala's "appalling" criminal history and agree he should be locked away for a long time.

Speaking through a Tamil interpreter, Bala pleaded to be given another chance and vowed that he would "turn over a new leaf" and not commit a crime "till the day I die".

But Justice Tay pointed to his record: three series of offences spanning more than two decades. Bala could not control himself for more than six or seven weeks despite the long periods of incarceration and the many strokes of the cane he received, said the judge.

He decided on 42 years, saying that even the maximum of 20 years' preventive detention -- a regime for recalcitrants with no chance of early release -- would be too lenient.

With good behaviour, Bala will serve 28 years, by which time he will be 76.

"It is quite obvious that the accused poses a very grave danger to society, especially to our womenfolk. He has absolutely no qualms about punching defenceless women on the face and body or kicking them to frighten them into giving in to him. Too many females have suffered because of this merciless, marauding monster for whom liberty is a licence to rob, rape or ruin the lives of innocent females.'"

Justice Tay Yong Kwang, in sentencing Bala Kuppusamy to 42 years' jail and 24 strokes of the cane

His first victim on April 27, 41 days after being released from prison, was a 34-year-old foreign domestic worker, who was crossing an overhead bridge in Bukit Timah. He pinned her down, punched her, then ran off with the $400 she handed over.

Three days later, he robbed a 20-year-old foreign student of $200 after she alighted from a bus along Bartley Road. He tried to drag her to some bushes but she resisted and ended up being punched and kicked.

On May 28, he approached an 18-year-old student along Upper Serangoon Road and pretended to ask for directions, then dragged her to a grass patch, bashed her and took $30. He then dragged her to a corner of Woodleigh MRT station, where he punched and sexually assaulted her.

Another victim was a 16-year-old Singapore student, whom he tricked after preying on her good intentions.

On June 1, he approached her for directions to Braddell Road as she was walking home and asked her to lead the way. As they passed a forested area, he grabbed her and pulled her in, and sexually assaulted her.

Bala was tracked down and arrested by the police on June 30 near his Ang Mo Kio flat after several of the victims identified him from photographic records.

Yesterday, as his past convictions were read out in court, Bala corrected the DPP, saying that he had a sentence of 28 strokes of the cane, not 24, the first time.

"I'm glad you remember," the judge remarked.

Credits The Straits Time

Joseph Tan
Executive Director
Crime Library (Singapore)