Court Cases About Sexual Crimes in Singapore and Hong Kong

May 12, 2026, 09:31
AsiaSociety

Introduction

Courts in Singapore and Hong Kong recently finished three cases about sexual crimes.

Main Body

In Singapore, a man named Gao Xiong tried to change his sentence. He said he was confused when he said he was guilty. The judge did not believe him. Gao must stay in prison for over six years. Another man in Singapore, Desmond Han, used cameras to watch a woman. He also used AI to make bad pictures of her. The court kept the woman's name a secret to help her. In Hong Kong, two men did bad things in a public place. People saw them on a video. The judge told the men to do 80 hours of free work for the city.

Conclusion

The courts in these cities give different punishments, from free work to prison.

Learning

⚡ The 'Action' Pattern

Look at how the text describes people doing things. To reach A2, you need to connect a Person to an Action.

The Pattern: Person + Action (Past) + Thing/Person

Examples from the text:

  • Gao Xiong →\rightarrow tried →\rightarrow to change his sentence
  • Desmond Han →\rightarrow used →\rightarrow cameras
  • The judge →\rightarrow told →\rightarrow the men

🛠️ Word Swap: 'Bad' vs. Specifics

Beginners use the word 'bad' for everything. A2 students start using specific words to describe the same feeling:

  • "bad pictures" →\rightarrow inappropriate/wrong
  • "bad things" →\rightarrow crimes/wrongdoing

Quick Tip: If you want to describe a crime, don't just say it is 'bad'. Use words like 'crime' or 'punishment' to sound more advanced.

Vocabulary Learning

court (n.)
a place where judges decide cases
Example:The court heard the case about the missing picture.
judge (n.)
a person who decides cases in a court
Example:The judge decided the punishment for the crime.
prison (n.)
a place where people are kept as punishment
Example:He will stay in prison for six years.
sentence (n.)
the punishment decided by a judge
Example:The sentence was to stay in prison.
guilty (adj.)
having done something wrong
Example:He was found guilty of the offense.
watch (v.)
to look at something carefully
Example:He used a camera to watch the woman.
camera (n.)
a device that takes pictures or videos
Example:The camera recorded the whole incident.
secret (adj.)
something kept hidden from others
Example:The court kept the woman's name a secret.
public (adj.)
open to everyone, not private
Example:The crime was committed in a public place.
video (n.)
a recording of moving pictures
Example:People saw them on a video.
work (n.)
tasks you do to help or earn money
Example:The judge ordered them to do 80 hours of free work.
city (n.)
a large town or urban area
Example:The work was done for the city.
punishment (n.)
the consequence for breaking a rule
Example:The courts give different punishments.