Review article based on reporting by The Straits Times, 14 November 2025 © SPH Media Limited.
A former Sengkang General Hospital doctor, Jonathan Soh Jingyao, 34, has been convicted of voyeurism after secretly recording a woman showering in an apartment bathroom. His sentence will be delivered on 15 December 2025.
The Incident and Discovery
On 14 April 2024, the victim was showering in a common bathroom next to the kitchen when Soh held his mobile phone up to a small connecting window and began filming her. Startled, the woman noticed the device pointed in her direction, shouted, and caused Soh to withdraw from the kitchen immediately.
The victim later asked to view CCTV footage from the unit to determine who had filmed her. By then, Soh had deleted the recording, a move prosecutors argue shows deliberate evasion of detection. He subsequently apologised and admitted his actions, after which the victim’s boyfriend lodged a police report.
Prosecution’s Sentencing Position
Deputy Public Prosecutor Xu Sijia called for 8 to 10 weeks’ imprisonment, emphasising two aggravating factors:
- Breach of trust in his relationship with the victim
- Active concealment, demonstrated by deleting the incriminating video
Due to a gag order, the court withheld details of the victim’s identity and her relationship with Soh.
Professional and Ethical Implications
A spokesperson from Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) confirmed that Soh had resigned earlier. As with past cases of professional misconduct involving doctors, the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) may initiate its own disciplinary inquiry, which could lead to suspension or striking off, depending on the severity of its findings.
This incident adds to wider concerns about misconduct among medical professionals, where breaches of personal privacy—even when unrelated to clinical work—raise questions about professional ethics, character, and public trust in healthcare institutions.
Legal Context and Broader Message
Voyeurism under Singapore law carries a penalty of up to two years’ jail, a fine, caning, or a combination thereof. Courts have consistently taken a strong stance against such offences, especially when the offender uses deception, exploits trust, or takes steps to avoid accountability.
Recent cases—such as doctors suspended for upskirt filming or healthcare workers recording patients—underscore the judiciary’s commitment to addressing sexual misconduct, particularly where vulnerable victims are involved or privacy is violated in domestic or institutional settings.
Social and Psychological Impact
Voyeurism causes significant psychological trauma to victims, who often experience anxiety, shame, and fear after discovering they were filmed without consent. In this case, the breach occurred in a private, intimate context where the victim reasonably expected complete safety and privacy.
Cases like Soh’s reinforce the need for wider education on consent, boundaries, and digital misuse, as well as stronger community vigilance against such offences.
Source: The Straits Times, 14 November 2025.
Original article: “Doctor convicted of voyeurism after using phone to film woman in shower” — © 2025 SPH Media Limited.
