Man Sentenced to 16 Years’ Jail and 15 Strokes of Cane for Sexual Abuse of Sister and Minors

On Monday (Mar 10), a 27-year-old Singaporean man received a sentence of 16 years' imprisonment along with 15 strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to charges of molestation and sexual penetration involving minors. The court imposed a gag order, preventing identification of the offender to protect the privacy of the victims.

One of the most disturbing incidents occurred between September and December 2016, when the accused, who was then 19 years old, sexually molested his 11-year-old biological sister. On that occasion, under the influence of alcohol, he showed the minor inappropriate content and forced her to touch him after she declined his advances. Authorities learned about this assault only four years later, in October 2020, when the victim disclosed it to her school teacher, eventually prompting an official police investigation.

Beyond the abuse of his sister, the offender also admitted to sexual relationships with two separate minors aged 13 and 14. These incidents happened between 2017 and 2020. In one case, he initiated a relationship with a 14-year-old girl whom he had met via a WhatsApp group. Shortly after, he sexually assaulted her. The victim later informed her teacher, who promptly notified her parents and the police. Despite being questioned by authorities following this incident, the offender committed further offenses.

In late 2019, he began another illicit relationship, this time with a 13-year-old girl. Police discovered this abuse incidentally in April 2020 during a routine patrol when they encountered the defendant and the young girl at a multi-storey carpark. Investigators found incriminating video evidence on his phone, leading to his immediate arrest.

Prosecutors Sheldon Lim and Kelly Ng had called for a lengthy sentence of at least 15 years and up to 18 strokes of the cane, stressing the fact that the defendant repeatedly abused the trust placed in him and showed disregard for the vulnerability of his victims. Justice Hoo Sheau Peng, in delivering her verdict, underscored the seriousness of repeated offenses and emphasized the importance of deterring both him and others from committing similar crimes. The judge dismissed claims that the accused was effectively a first-time offender, stating that earlier incidents had simply gone unreported until this case brought them to light.

Singaporean law sets stringent penalties for sexual penetration offenses involving minors, potentially including up to 20 years in prison, fines, and caning, especially when exploitation is involved.