A Japanese hairstylist has been sentenced to 17.5 years in prison and 20 strokes of the cane in Singapore for a severe assault and rape of an intoxicated student five years ago, as confirmed by his lawyer on Thursday. Kita Ikko, aged 39, pleaded guilty to charges of rape, sexual assault by penetration, and making an obscene film earlier in the week. The Japanese Embassy in Singapore stated that Kita will be the first Japanese individual to receive a caning sentence in Singapore.
Singaporean law mandates caning for male convicts under the age of 50 for several offenses, including rape, drug trafficking, vandalism, and robbery. Although this punishment has faced criticism, it remains prevalent in the legal system. Kita was apprehended in December 2019 following a police report filed by the 20-year-old student. The victim met Kita at a bar, where he subsequently took her to his residence, assaulted her, and recorded the acts on his phone before sending the video to a friend.
Kita was free on bail until his arrest in May of last year, after which he was in police custody until his recent guilty plea and sentencing. Justice Aedit Abdullah remarked that the assault on the victim was described as brutal and cruel, highlighting the victim’s state of extreme intoxication and vulnerability. The judge noted that the victim was incapable of defending herself, and the trauma inflicted upon her left lasting psychological scars. The sentence will be retroactively dated to Kita’s remand in May 2023.
In defense, Kita’s lawyer argued that the rape was not premeditated and maintained that Kita was not a repeat offender.