A former senior security officer at the Seahill condominium, Ganesan Gunasagaran, was sentenced to 27 months in jail and ordered to receive three strokes of the cane after being found guilty of extortion. Ganesan, 33, was arrested following an incident on October 19 last year, where he falsely accused a Japanese man of committing an offence and demanded money to cover up his fabricated claims.
The Japanese man, a 29-year-old teacher, had entered a handicap toilet with a 26-year-old woman, a resident of the condominium, around 11pm. After they exited the toilet, Ganesan approached the couple, accusing the man of trespassing and threatening to have him arrested. The security guard also claimed to have photographic evidence of the two leaving the toilet together and told the victim that he could face jail time.
Fearing the repercussions, the man was coerced into going with Ganesan to a nearby park, where the guard continued to demand money in exchange for his silence. Under the pretence of wanting to “help” the victim, Ganesan suggested the man pay $10,000 to avoid trouble, later reducing the amount to $2,000.
The victim, in fear of his safety and reputation, agreed to transfer the initial $2,000, promising to pay the remaining balance within a week. However, the victim recorded the conversation, leading to Ganesan’s eventual arrest by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) after the man filed a police report.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Ganesan had used his position as a security guard to manipulate the situation, impersonating an undercover police officer and fabricating stories to scare the man into paying. Ganesan’s actions were a clear abuse of power, and the court sentenced him accordingly.
The case highlights the severe consequences of extortion and the breach of trust by individuals in positions of authority. Ganesan’s actions could have led to a sentence of between two and five years, along with caning, but he was given a reduced term following his guilty plea.