Man Sentenced To Prison And Caning For Raping Flatmate

Court Sentence For Sexual Assault

Keivan Motallebi, a 34-year-old Iranian national, has been sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment and six strokes of the cane. The sentencing followed his guilty plea to a charge of rape against a woman who was 26 years old at the time of the incident. The legal proceedings concluded on November 4, 2026, addressing a violent encounter that took place in early 2023.

The case centered on a living arrangement in Singapore where the victim, a foreign national who arrived in the country for work in 2021, rented a room in a three-bedroom unit. Motallebi moved into the residence in January 2023, occupying the master bedroom alongside the female landlord. Shortly after his arrival, Motallebi began expressing romantic interest in the victim, initiating a series of interactions that eventually led to the criminal act.

Details Of The Assault

According to court testimony, Motallebi first approached the victim in the living room, asking her to be in a relationship with him after learning she was single. The victim informed him that she required time to consider his request before returning to her private room. However, the persistence of the accused continued throughout the month, as he repeatedly sought a romantic connection with his flatmate.

On January 31, 2023, the situation escalated significantly. After the victim returned home, Motallebi approached her again to request a relationship. When she retreated to her room, she heard a knock and discovered Motallebi standing outside her door naked. Despite her attempts to close the door to maintain her privacy and safety, Motallebi pushed his way into the room. Once inside, he pinned her down on her bed and raped her, despite her repeated verbal refusals and clear indications that she did not consent to the act.

Following the assault, Motallebi offered an apology to the victim. The woman reported the crime to the authorities on February 1, 2023, which led to the immediate arrest of the accused on that same day. The victim’s prompt action in reporting the incident ensured that the perpetrator was apprehended shortly after the crime occurred.

Legal Considerations And Sentencing

During the sentencing phase, the prosecution emphasized that the crime was particularly aggravated because the assault occurred within the unit the victim regarded as her home. Motallebi, who represented himself without a lawyer, attempted to argue against this point by stating that he also resided in the flat, suggesting that the location should not be viewed as an aggravating factor since he lived there as well.

High Court Judge Mavis Chionh rejected this argument, stating that the fact the accused lived in the same residence was beside the point and irrelevant to the aggravating nature of the crime. Justice Chionh noted that a sexual assault committed in a victim’s own home is considered a more severe offense because the home is the primary location where an individual is entitled to feel the most secure and safe from harm. The violation of this sanctuary increases the trauma and the severity of the act.

In his final plea for leniency, Motallebi expressed remorse for his actions. He told the court that he was very sorry and expressed a wish that he could change the events of the past, though he acknowledged that such a change was impossible. Despite these pleas, the court maintained the sentence of a decade in prison and the administration of six strokes of the cane to reflect the gravity of the violation and the breach of safety within the victim’s living space. The court’s decision underscores the legal protection of the home as a secure environment for all residents.