On Wednesday (30 Oct), a Singaporean man was fined S$500 for stroking the hand of a polling officer during the 2023 Presidential Election.
Wickramasinghe Ashley Anura, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of using criminal force.
The 31-year-old polling officer, a primary school teacher, was serving as the presiding officer at a polling station in Geylang, where her duties included distributing ballots to voters.
The incident took place when Wickramasinghe approached her counter.
According to Channel NewsAsia (CNA), Wickramasinghe arrived at the polling station with his girlfriend around 9.30am.
As he neared the counter to collect his ballot, the polling officer detected a strong odour of alcohol on him.
To verify his identity, she read his name aloud.
In response, Wickramasinghe unexpectedly began singing while maintaining eye contact with her, which made her uncomfortable.
He then reached out and stroked her hand.
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The polling officer quickly withdrew her hand, prompting a senior presiding officer, who had witnessed the incident, to intervene and request that Wickramasinghe cease his behaviour.
He complied but reportedly responded, “Wow, security,” in a “mocking” manner.
The police were summoned, and Wickramasinghe was taken into custody.
He later acknowledged that he was intoxicated when he touched the polling officer’s hand.
While the interaction was brief, the prosecution contended that Wickramasinghe’s actions towards a public servant performing her duties were an aggravating factor.
Conversely, his attorney argued that Wickramasinghe was genuinely remorseful and had cooperated fully with law enforcement since the incident.
To avoid similar mistakes in the future, he began using opioid blockers before drinking alcohol, which diminish the pleasure associated with consumption.
The 51-year-old also financially supports his elderly parents.
After weighing both sides, the judge imposed a fine of S$500, which Wickramasinghe paid promptly.
He could have faced a maximum of three months in prison, a fine of up to S$1,500, or both for his actions.
Also read: Woman throws hot soup at ex-boyfriend in Geylang coffee shop spat, jailed over 9 weeks
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Featured image by MS News.
Some also said it was Wukong riding his cloud.
The police have determined the suspect’s age to be between 30 and 50 years.
Three other pedestrians stopped to yield to the car as it approached the roundabout.
He was also charged with driving without a valid licence, among other traffic offences.
She offered RM50 the first time, then S$50.
"This incident could have happened anywhere," said a local politician.