Updated: 12/01/2012 00:37

Man sentenced to jail & caning for rape acquitted due to gaps in victim's evidence

®Copyright MediaCorp

A man who was sentenced to seven years' jail and eight strokes of the cane for rape has been acquitted.

Mr Ong Ming Wee, 29, had claimed trial to a charge of raping a 25-year-old woman on 12 February 2009.

He had met the woman the night before at Zouk and brought her back to his flat in Toa Payoh North.

Mr Ong was sentenced in April last year but appealed.

On Friday, High Court Judge Quentin Loh overturned the conviction and acquitted Ong of the charge of rape.

He said there were gaps in the victim's evidence.

The victim, he said, failed to prove her claim that she feared for her life.

Justice Loh said she could not tell how many times she rejected Ong's move.

He pointed out the victim was still able to make calls to her mother and friends during the alleged incident.