An Indian nurse in Singapore has been sentenced to jail and corporal punishment after being convicted of molesting a hospital visitor under the false pretext of disinfecting him. Elipe Siva Nagu, aged 34, was working as a staff nurse at the prominent Raffles Hospital when the incident took place in June 2025.

The Incident at Raffles Hospital

According to The Straits Times, Nagu molested the male visitor, who had come to visit his grandfather at the hospital. The victim was using a patient’s toilet when Nagu peered inside, claiming he needed to “disinfect” the visitor. However, during the supposed disinfection process, Nagu proceeded to molest the man. The victim, stunned and shocked, remained frozen during the encounter and later returned quietly to his grandfather’s bedside without immediately reporting the incident.

Psychological Impact on the Victim

The victim experienced significant psychological trauma following the assault, with the lasting effects including recurring flashbacks of the incident. The details of the victim, including his age, have been withheld by the court to maintain his privacy.

Legal Proceedings and Sentence

The matter was reported to the authorities on June 21, 2025, and Elipe Siva Nagu was arrested two days later. In court, Deputy Public Prosecutor Eugene Phua revealed the full extent of the offense, which had been a severe violation of the victim’s dignity. Nagu pleaded guilty to molestation, and on October 24, the court sentenced him to one year and two months in jail, in addition to two strokes of the cane as part of the punishment.

Immediate Suspension and Public Reaction

Following the incident, Nagu was suspended from his duties as a nurse at Raffles Hospital. The case has sparked public outcry, with many questioning the breach of trust by a healthcare professional in a position of responsibility.

Singapore maintains strict laws regarding sexual offenses, with corporal punishment such as caning being a common judicial remedy for certain offenses. This sentence underscores the seriousness with which the country handles cases of molestation.

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