Jail for worker who tried to rape woman after his friend allegedly raped her

Two foreign workers who were taking the last train back to their dormitory encountered a heavily intoxicated woman during their journey, and decided to take her along with them after the train stopped at Tuas West Road station.

- Selina Lum

One man, Alam Foysal, 38, guided the woman out of the train, then led her from the MRT station to a grass field under the Tuas Viaduct, where he allegedly raped her.

The other man, Ahmed Rayhan, 32, followed closely behind Foysal and the victim. He tried to rape the victim, but gave up after a few tries. The 32-year-old victim was eventually found by a passer-by on his way to work the next morning.

Foysal and Rayhan, who are Bangladeshi nationals, were arrested on the same day, after the police established their identities from surveillance camera footage.

On Oct 18, Rayhan was sentenced to nine years' jail and nine strokes of the cane after he pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted rape. Two other charges related to the same victim, one for sexual assault by penetration and one for outrage of modesty, were taken into consideration during sentencing. Foysal's case is still pending in court.

The incident took place between 12.30am and 2.20am on March 8, 2022. Deputy Public Prosecutor Michelle Tay told the High Court that both men worked as welders on the same construction-related project and stayed in the same dormitory.