NUS Student Gets 10‑Week Jail for Messing With Privacy
What should have been a quiet night on campus turned into a courtroom drama when a 25‑year‑old engineering student from the National University of Singapore (NUS) turned up in prison for catching two women in the shower.
The “How‑It‑Happened” Timeline
- Aug 28, 2019: Our protagonist, Jonathan Angga Dharmawan Jie, spots a 25‑year‑old woman in a shower and decides to snap a video right smack‑down behind the louvres. The lady runs off after a shout‑out.
- He deletes that clip, thinks he’s cleared–but the plot thickens.
- Four hours later, a second video is captured: a 22‑year‑old, brushing her hair, uh‑oh‑screams. Jie runs off again, only to be seen “looking concerned” outside.
- Campus security arrives, finds the incriminating footage on Jie’s phone, and the phone’s master list of “oops moments” is now a legal dossier.
The Legal Rumble
- June 18, 2023: Jie pleads guilty for two counts of “insulting a woman’s modesty” at the district court.
- July 19, 2023: Judge Sharmila Sripathy‑Shanaz sentences him to 10 weeks behind bars.
- She refuses to order a probation report, citing that voyeurism stories on campus are as common as pizza deliveries.
- Judge Sharmila’s take: a “robust, deterrent sentencing” is the only antidote to a campus full of bug‑screens and stolen camera footage.
The “Tough Love” Angle
Jie admits he was “addicted to pornography” during the incidents and that his parents and church leaders offered to keep an eye on him afterward. Judge Sharmila, however, says even if you’re the most supportive guardian, you can’t monitor someone who’s snooping in a shower – folks have eyes on their private moments only when they’re using a phone or a camera.
She reminds Jie he’s lucky to have family backing, yet urges him not to let this mistake become his lifelong label. Jie replies with gratitude— a nice little “thanks, Your Honour” note to show he’s ready to rewrite his story.
Campus Response
While serving his sentence, the student is still suspended from all university activities. NUS stresses that keeping campus safer means tightening the legal net around “voyeurs” and ensuring lessons are learned.
This evening’s news was a reminder that, even in a world of streaming and selfies, respecting privacy is still the name of the game.
