**‘She Had Bad Breath’: Indian Man’s Sexual Assault Accusation Deemed Untrue**
*By Chanshimla Varah | Sep 22, 2025, 5:06 PM*
Ankit Sharma, a 46-year-old Indian national and Singapore permanent resident, has been sentenced to four years in prison along with six strokes of the cane for molesting a woman at Changi City Point mall.
**The Incident**
On March 1, 2023, Sharma met the victim, a 31-year-old technology specialist recruiter, for a professional meeting. During their meeting over drinks, Sharma made unwanted sexual advances, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere.
According to Deputy Public Prosecutor Sheldon Lim, the woman excused herself to use the restroom. When she returned, Sharma forcibly dragged her into a nearby nursing room. There, he forced a kiss on her, held her back, and made aggressive sexual overtures despite her protests.
**Legal Proceedings**
Sharma denied the charges, claiming that the victim had consented to enter the nursing room. His defense team argued that the interaction was voluntary initially but escalated when Sharma commented on the woman’s bad breath, which upset her.
However, the court rejected Sharma’s defense, finding him guilty of aggravated outrage of modesty. The prosecution described Sharma’s actions as “extremely high” in sexual exploitation, noting that the intrusion was “intense and prolonged.”
**Sentencing**
Despite Sharma’s lawyer seeking a lighter sentence of three to three-and-a-half years in prison along with fewer cane strokes, the court imposed a sentence of four years’ imprisonment and six strokes of the cane.
This case highlights the seriousness with which Singapore’s judiciary treats offenses involving sexual harassment and assault.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/dragged-kissed-forcefully-indian-jailed-in-singapore-for-molesting-woman/story