British businessman faces jail and lashing for pinching woman's bottom in Singapore

A Briton visiting Singapore was on Friday charged with outraging the modesty of a 30-year-old woman in a Clarke Quay club. Austin Charles Arnold Cowburn, 34, a recruitment executive, is alleged to have grabbed her buttocks in the China One club at 4 a.m. on April 3.

To the prosecutor’s request that Cowburn be bailed out by a Singapore citizen, defence counsel Thangavelu argued that this was prejudicial to people like his client. The lawyer, who goes by one name, said Cowburn was unlikely to know anyone here as he was a tourist. To allow the prosecution time to receive instructions from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, District Judge Christopher Goh adjourned the matter until the afternoon.



When the hearing resumed, the prosecution dropped its demand for a Singapore bailor. Instead, it asked for bail to be set at $10,000 on the grounds that Cowburn did not have a fixed address and the offence was very serious. Thangavelu again took umbrage, telling the court that his client has no fixed abode as he is a visitor.

“There should also be no presumption of guilt, so asking for a cash bail of $10,000 is unjustifiable on the grounds that the offence is serious.” He suggested $5,000 as an alternative and argued that his client, whose passport has been surrendered to the police, was not a flight risk. District Judge Goh set bail at $8,000. If found guilty, he could be jailed up to two years and fined up to $10,000 or caned.