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On 4 September 2025, the Public Transport Security Command (TransCom) presented the Community Partnership Award (Individual) to four public transport staff for assisting the Police in separate cases of outrage of modesty, which occurred on the public transport network.

The brief facts of some of the cases are as follows:

In the first case, on 18 April 2025, Mr Tippu Sultan S/O S Hamid of SMRT Corporation was at Pioneer MRT station when he spotted a female commuter chasing after a male subject. The female commuter had informed him that she was taking the escalator when she felt the man grab her left buttock. Mr Tippu Sultan detained the man and alerted the Police. The man was arrested and charged for outrage of modesty under Section 354 of the Penal Code 1871. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to three weeks’ imprisonment after his conviction.

In the second case, on 7 June 2025, Mr Edward Thiah Yong Kwan of SBS Transit was informed by a female commuter that a man had allegedly touched the back of her thigh in the train from Sengkang towards Woodleigh MRT station. Mr Thiah and the commuter managed to detain the man at Hougang MRT station. The man was subsequently arrested for outrage of modesty under Section 354 of the Penal Code 1871. Police investigations are ongoing.

In the third case, on 24 June 2025, Mr Ethan Chan Poh Seng of SBS Transit was alerted that a female commuter had felt a brush on her right shoulder and her buttocks at Hougang MRT station. Mr Chan managed to detain the man who was allegedly involved before he could exit the station. Police investigations are ongoing against the man for outrage of modesty under Section 354 of the Penal Code 1871. 

In the fourth case, on 5 July 2025, Mr William Koh Hui Chong of SMRT Corporation was alerted by a female commuter that a man had allegedly wrapped his left arm around her waist. Mr Koh managed to detain the man at the platform of Somerset MRT station. The man was subsequently arrested for outrage of modesty under Section 354 of the Penal Code 1871. Police investigations are ongoing.

Commuters who are victims of molestation on public transport networks should immediately move away from the perpetrator and report the incident. They are advised to call the Police at ‘999’ and alert public transport staff directly. While ensuring their personal safety, victims should try to note key details such as the perpetrator's physical appearance, clothing, and the time and location of the incident.

Bystanders who witness such offences should not remain silent. They can assist by alerting public transport staff immediately, calling ‘999’, or, if safe to do so, drawing attention to the situation. Such actions can deter the perpetrator and provide crucial witness testimony. If the perpetrator flees, bystanders are encouraged to take note of their description and direction of travel. Quick responses by both victims and bystanders can help the Police swiftly identify and apprehend the perpetrator, while safeguarding others from harm. 

Members of the public are encouraged to sign up as a Riders-On-Watch (ROW) member under the Community Watch Scheme and download the Police@SG mobile app to receive the latest crime information, alerts and advisories. The ROW scheme enables members of the public to contribute to public transport safety during their daily commute. ROW members serve as additional eyes and ears across the transport network, helping to spot and report suspicious activities or security concerns. There are 13,007 ROW members as of June 2025.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (AC) Masagoes Idris Hussain, Commander of Public Transport Security Command, expressed his appreciation to the award recipients for their public spiritedness in making the public land transport network a safer and more secure place to commute. He said, “The Public Transport Security Command works in close collaboration with the Land Transport Authority and the public transport operators to implement multiple crime prevention initiatives throughout the public land transport network. These initiatives, including the platform screen door decals, escalator decals and bus hangers, seek to enhance commuters’ awareness on the crimes of concern and deter potential offenders. The Police have zero tolerance towards sexual offenders who threaten the personal safety of the public. Apart from stepping up our patrols in the public land transport network, we will spare no effort to trace and arrest the offenders through ground operations. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report to the Police immediately if they had witnessed a crime or are aware of someone being a victim of crime.”

Commander TransCom with the Community Partnership Award Recipients ▼