I Want Women To Know That This Kind Of Thing Really Happens

Annie, who is in her 40s and has four children, first contacted The Straits Times through her brother-in-law in 2024, after J appealed for a lighter sentence.

- Selina Lum Senior Law Correspondent and Christine Tan

Accompanied by her sister and brother-in-law, Annie wanted her story told.

ST met her a second time in May 2025. By then, all the criminal cases had concluded and her divorce was finalised.

Facing an all-female team of print and visual journalists in ST's newsroom studio, Annie was determined to tell her story.

"I was initially a bit worried about speaking up, because I am not sure if I can face the embarrassment... (but) I want women to know that this kind of thing really happens," she said.

She was steadfast, while aware she may be judged, adding: "I know that in the media, everybody is wondering what actually happened, so I hope I can clear the air."

Annie was also inspired by Ms Gisele Pelicot, a 72-year-old grandmother in France who was raped over a decade by 51 men. Her estranged husband had orchestrated the whole thing.

Ms Pelicot waived her right to anonymity during what she called "a trial of cowardice".

The similarities are striking. Both of them learnt of their husbands' betrayal in 2020.

Both were drugged and exploited.

And both were manipulated to believe that all was well.