SINGAPORE — A former business administration undergraduate from the National University of Singapore (NUS) was sentenced to eight weeks’ jail on Tuesday (March 24) for taking upskirt videos of 27 women, including on campus.

Luah Chao Zhi, 23, has been expelled from the university following a disciplinary hearing, his lawyer Ng Kwong Loong told the court.

Luah pleaded guilty to two counts of insulting a woman’s modesty, with another three such charges taken into consideration for sentencing. He took upskirt photos for about four months last year before he was caught.

He is among several university students who have been hauled to court for similar offences. Last month, a 25-year-old NUS student pleaded guilty to taking photographs of two female students showering in a residential hall toilet. 

Earlier this month, another NUS student was arrested for allegedly trespassing a women’s toilet on campus and setting up a hidden camera disguised as a smoke detector. 

FELLOW STUDENT CAUGHT HIM IN ACTION

The court heard that on Aug 23 last year, a 21-year-old female NUS student was standing behind Luah on an escalator going up at Haw Par Villa MRT Station. She then noticed him taking upskirt photos of the victim, who remains unidentified.

The witness decided to follow Luah to another escalator within the station. While walking there, he retrieved a clear plastic folder from his backpack.

Luah stood behind the victim again on the other escalator and placed the folder with his mobile phone in it below her dress. 

The witness then deliberately walked up the escalator behind Luah in a “loud manner” to warn him that she was approaching, Deputy Public Prosecutor Magdalene Huang said.

Luah removed the folder for a short while but placed it back under the victim’s dress seconds later.

After they got off the escalator, all three of them took the bus from the MRT station to the vicinity of the NUS Business School. 

When they got to the school, the witness saw Luah loitering on the first floor. He continued trailing the victim to a staircase where he tried to film up her skirt again, but ultimately failed as there were other people behind him.

The witness left to tell the faculty dean what she had seen. When she returned, Luah was gone. 

She filed a police report later that day.

Luah was identified through closed-circuit television footage and police officers searched his home five days later.

Found on his mobile phone and laptop were 31 upskirt videos — two of them taken on the NUS campus.

In mitigation, Mr Ng said that Luah was diagnosed with adjustment disorder after being arrested. He is now undergoing psychotherapy and has asked to be referred to a psychiatrist and psychologist.

“We wish to highlight that Luah has suffered quite a significant punishment over his foolish actions. He understands the gravity of the matter and regrets having to learn such bitter lessons in this manner,” the lawyer added.

An NUS spokesperson said that a disciplinary board which it had convened to look into several allegations of voyeurism committed by Luah found that he had breached the university's code of student conduct. NUS expelled him at the end of January.
 
"NUS takes a strong stand against any form of sexual misconduct," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that the university has enhanced safety and security measures, and has implemented a tougher disciplinary framework for sexual misconduct offences.

"We are also providing comprehensive support for victims, as well as training for all staff and students to build a culture of respect and consent."

For insulting a woman’s modesty, Luah could have been jailed up to a year, fined, or both.