SEXUAL HARASSMENT OFFENCES

SEXUAL HARASSMENT OFFENCES

2.

Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs how many people have been prosecuted for sexual harassment under section 13A or 13B of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act in the last five years and whether there is a need to strengthen this law to ensure better protection for women against sexual harassment.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Offences that are classified under section 13A or 13B of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act, are more commonly incidents of using threatening or abusive words, or displays of writing, signs or visual representations in order to cause harassment, alarm or distress. The Police does not keep track of the number of persons prosecuted for sexual harassment under these sections.

Nonetheless, if a report of a sexual harassment is lodged, Police will conduct initial investigation and interview the relevant parties to obtain the facts of the case. Subsequent police action will be contingent on the facts uncovered of the case. For example, Police will classify the case under section 354 or section 509 of the Penal Code if the victim's

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modesty had been outraged through assault or use of criminal force or through a word or gesture that is intended to insult the modesty of a woman. Prosecution action would be initiated thereafter where appropriate.

The Ministry's assessment is that the current laws are adequate to deal with sexual harassment cases.

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