Singapore Nurse Sentenced to Jail and Caning for Hospital Molestation

A Singaporean court has sentenced a 34-year-old Indian national nurse, Elipe Siva Nagu, to 14 months in jail and two strokes of the cane for molesting a male visitor at Raffles Hospital. The incident occurred in June, when the victim was visiting his grandfather.

According to court reports, the assault took place under the pretense of a disinfection procedure. Elipe reportedly entered the patient toilet while the visitor was using the facility and claimed he needed to disinfect him, using soap during the act. The startled victim was initially too shocked to respond and later reported the incident to authorities. Elipe was arrested two days after the report.

The victim experienced significant psychological distress, including flashbacks, which were presented in court documents. Raffles Hospital immediately suspended Elipe following the allegations.

Singapore’s judiciary maintains strict penalties for such crimes, and caning is a mandatory form of punishment for certain offences. The court highlighted the breach of trust and professional misconduct involved, especially given the nurse’s role in a healthcare setting.

This case underscores the city-state’s strong stance on public safety and ethical conduct in essential service environments.