Daniel Poon Lee was sentenced to 10 months in jail.
Cover image via Kelvin Chng/The Straits Times & TODAY Online
A Singaporean man has been sentenced to 10 months in jail for installing eight cameras in his apartment to spy on a Malaysian female tenant
According to The Straits Times, 68-year-old Daniel Poon Lee pleaded guilty to two counts of voyeurism on Tuesday, 16 July.
A separate charge was taken into consideration for his sentencing.
In January 2019, the victim moved into Poon's apartment in Singapore, renting a room without an en suite bathroom. Poon and his wife lived in the apartment as well, with the couple using the master bedroom.
According to deputy public prosecutor Ng Jun Chong, before Poon set up the spy cameras, he would unlock the victim's room with his master key and enter her room once a month.
Poon explained to the victim that he entered her room to perform chores, such as changing the light bulb, cleaning the fan, and mopping the floor. The court also heard that he would cook for the victim occasionally.
The victim initially felt uneasy about his actions, but she eventually accepted them, thinking he might just be bored at home.
Between 2020 and 2021, Poon started installing the hidden cameras
TODAY Online reported that the victim used to travel back to Malaysia on the weekends, but pandemic travel restrictions forced her to spend more time in the rented unit.
Over the two years, Poon purchased eight spy cameras online and installed them in places where they could film the victim naked, such as below an air-conditioning duct and in a USB socket in the victim's room.
A camera was also installed inside the water heater in the bathroom. Other cameras were also discovered in several common areas, such as inside a digital alarm clock in the kitchen, a display lamp in the living room, and a wall clock in the living room, among other places.
Poon's master bedroom also had a spy camera inside a speaker.
All cameras were connected to his phone, where he could view live footage. The court heard that he would use the feature to record the victim using the toilet and changing in her room.
At least 49 images screencaptured from the live footage were discovered on his computer.
The victim discovered she was being spied on in April 2021 when she noticed a small hole in the wall under the air-conditioning duct
She pointed a torchlight into the hole and discovered a red light. She contacted her boyfriend, cousin, supervisor, and colleagues about her discovery.
The police were informed about the discovery after the victim's boyfriend arrived at the apartment and confirmed the source of the red light was a camera with a USB connection.
Poon was not at home at the time. The victim's cousin did not find any spy cameras in the bathroom before the police arrived.
The deputy public prosecutor argued that Poon's level of planning and premeditation was exceptionally high, as the cameras were so well-hidden that it was a struggle to find them.
The Straits Times reported that voyeurism cases have been on the rise in Singapore, increasing by 12% from 424 in 2022 to 476 in 2023.
The crime was most frequently committed in residential premises, shopping complexes, and on public transport.
If you or someone you know may be at risk or has experienced sexual abuse or assault, please reach out to these Malaysian organisations:
1. WOMEN'S AID ORGANISATION (WAO)
Operating hours: 24-hour
Contact: +603-30008858
SMS/WhatsApp: +6018-9888058
Website | Facebook | Twitter
2. ALL WOMEN'S ACTION SOCIETY (AWAM)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9.30am - 5.30pm)
Contact: +603-78770224
WhatsApp/Telegram: +6016-2284221 | +6016-2374221
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
3. WOMEN'S CENTRE FOR CHANGE PENANG (WCC PENANG)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am - 5pm)
Contact: +604-2280342 | +604-3988340
WhatsApp: +6011-31084001 | +6016-4180342
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
4. SARAWAK WOMEN FOR WOMEN SOCIETY (SWWS)
Operating hours: Monday (7pm - 9pm),Tuesday to Thursday (9.30am - 11.30am), Saturday (2pm - 4pm)
Contact: +6082-368853
SMS/WhatsApp: +6016-5822660 | +6013-8044285
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
5. SABAH WOMEN'S ACTION-RESOURCE GROUP (SAWO)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am - 5pm)
Contact: +6088-280200 | +6011-27908020
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
6. PROTECT AND SAVE THE CHILDREN (PS THE CHILDREN)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (3pm - 12am)
WhatsApp: +6016-7213065
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
7. INTERNET WATCH FOUNDATION (IWF)
Anonymously and confidentially report child sexual abuse content and non-photographic child sexual abuse images with IWF's Reporting Portal.
Learn how to detect hidden spy cameras in this article:
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