Indian-Origin Singer Fined For Molesting Crew Member In Singapore

A 42-year-old Indian-origin singer residing in Singapore has been ordered to pay a fine of SG$ 3,000 after pleading guilty to molesting a female production crew member while intoxicated in 2022. Sivabalan Siva Prasad Menon, who admitted to consuming between 10 and 15 cups of whisky on the day of the incident, entered his plea on February 5 to one count of molestation.

The woman involved cannot be identified due to a legal restriction, and specific details about the incident, such as the date and the show's name, were not disclosed in court to safeguard her privacy. However, there is no similar restriction on revealing Sivabalan's identity. 

According to Deputy Public Prosecutor, Grace Teo, the victim and her friend observed that Sivabalan appeared intoxicated. After the encounter, the victim experienced distress and sought refuge in a room designated for production crew members, where she became emotionally overwhelmed. Later that day, she reported the incident to the police.

Indian-Origin Singer Fined For Molesting Crew Member In Singapore

During sentencing, two additional charges were taken into consideration, including another molestation offence, as reported by The Straits Times newspaper. The incident took place when the victim arrived at the Mediacorp Campus on Stars Avenue around 11 a.m. to participate in the production of a show that had hired Menon as a singer and dancer.

According to Teo, Menon had consumed up to 15 cups of whisky between 3 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. while present at the venue. As the show concluded, the victim and a friend were waiting for the lift when Menon exited the lift and unexpectedly grabbed the victim by her jaw, kissing her cheek.

In an attempt to free herself, the victim expressed her discomfort to Menon, who then left the vicinity after her friend intervened. Teo informed the court that following the incident, the victim experienced emotional distress, leading to crying and hyperventilation. She subsequently reported the matter to the police later that day.

During the court proceedings, Menon's lawyer highlighted that this was his client's first encounter with the law and emphasised that the interaction between Menon and the victim lasted for less than three seconds. In Singapore, the punishment for molestation includes imprisonment for up to three years, fines, caning, or a combination of these penalties.