27 weeks’ jail for man who took more than 160 upskirt photos and videos over five years

Christine Tan

UPDATED Jun 04, 2025, 01:00 PM

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SINGAPORE - A man took over 160 upskirt videos and photos between 2019 and 2024, and did not stop offending even after he was caught red-handed by one victim.

Edmond Kwek Liwen, 37, was sentenced to 27 weeks’ jail on June 4 after pleading guilty to one count of outrage of modesty and two counts of voyeurism. One other charge of voyeurism was taken into consideration for sentencing.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Jheong Siew Yin said Kwek “did not at all resist his urge to record” such material, and that his recalcitrance points to a high risk of re-offending.

A victim caught Kwek recording her in February 2021 at Guoco Tower, the court heard.

He captured the first upskirt video when she was travelling on the escalator, and followed her to the lift lobby where he took a second video.

She discovered what he was doing when she felt Kwek touch the back of her thigh at the lift lobby.

When he immediately attempted to flee, she grabbed onto his neck. She asked if he had taken a photo of her, and if so, to delete it.

In response, Kwek showed her a blurry photo on his phone and deleted it before he fled the scene again.

She gave chase and managed to stop him with the help of two members of the public. Investigations revealed that Kwek had not deleted the two upskirt videos he had taken of the victim.

The victim was significantly distressed as she felt violated by Kwek’s actions, said DPP Jheong.

Further investigations of Kwek’s phone revealed he had taken 141 other upskirt photos in 2019, at various locations in Singapore.

While he was being investigated for the above offences, Kwek re-offended in April 2024.

After hearing about a female water polo competition taking place at the swimming complex of Our Tampines Hub on April 11, Kwek headed there to take photos and videos of girls in swimsuits.

One of the coaches spotted him doing so and asked him to delete the videos and photos. Staff members at the swimming complex were alerted and called the police.

When the police arrived and checked Kwek’s phone, they found 12 upskirt images taken between March and April 2024.

A forensic psychiatric evaluation conducted by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) found that Kwek suffered from major depressive disorder.

However, the IMH psychiatrist found that his condition was in remission during the 2024 offence, and it did not have a contributory link to his criminal responsibility.

Kwek also has voyeurism and fetishism, but not at the level where it would be a paraphilic disorder or cause any substantial impairment.

Quoting the psychiatrist, DPP Jheong said: “(Kwek) had voluntarily indulged in his interests for sexual pleasure and was, at all material times, in full control of his actions and knew that his actions were contrary to the law.”

The prosecutor noted that he had taken 162 upskirt videos and images in total.

In mitigation, Kwek’s lawyer Wilson Yeo said his client acknowledged the seriousness of his offences and “offers no excuses for his actions.”

Kwek has switched to using a mobile phone without a camera function since 2024, added Mr Yeo.

The man himself also addressed the court, saying: “I’m sorry to all the victims, and I’m determined to start afresh and make amends for what I did.”

Christine Tan is a journalist at The Straits Times reporting on crime, justice and social issues in Singapore.

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