Child molester, 69, sentenced to more than 3 years' jail
SINGAPORE — A man who repeatedly molested a Primary 5 pupil who lived in the same HDB block as him was on Friday (27 March) jailed for three years, three months and 12 weeks.
On at least two occasions, the culprit molested the victim in the presence of his own two-year-old granddaughter, a court heard.
The offences, which took place in 2016, only came to light the next year after the victim was placed in a home by the Child Protective Services as her parents were in prison and none of her relatives were able to care for her. The victim told a social worker about what happened and the latter brought her to make a police report.
At the State Courts on Friday, the 69-year-old Singaporean perpetrator, who cannot be named to protect the victim’s identity, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated molestation.
Four other similar charges were considered in sentencing.
Culprit fetched victim from school
At the time of the offences in 2016, the man was 65 and working an a private-hire driver. The victim was aged between 10 and 11. She lived with her mother, who became friends with the culprit’s daughter.
From 2011, the culprit’s daughter would help to fetch the victim from school and watch her, together with her own children. The victim grew close to the culprit’s family over time and would often frequent their home whenever her mother wasn’t home. As she was the oldest child, the victim would also help to look after the younger children, who were the culprit’s grandchildren.
The culprit would also help to fetch the children and watch them if his daughter was busy. On these occasions, he would be alone with the children.
In March 2016, the man started molesting the victim by touching her, before he progressed to kissing her on the lips, and groping her in the shower.
“The victim was fearful of the accused and felt disgusted but remained silent as he performed these acts on her,” said Deputy Public Prosecutor Sruthi Boppana.
“She did not know how to seek help and feared that her mother might scold her or disbelieve her if she were to share what the accused had done,” the prosecutor added.
Molested victim twice in toilet
On one occasion in March 2016, the victim went to the culprit’s daughter’s home. In the living room, he began touching her thigh, making her feel uncomfortable.
The victim then went to bathe the culprit’s two-year-old granddaughter in the kitchen toilet. The culprit sat on the toilet seat and waited for the victim, then made her sit on his lap and groped her for a few minutes as she remained silent.
One another occasion that year, the culprit hugged the victim from behind while she was washing dishes alone in the kitchen. He then groped her over her clothes before placing his hands under her clothes and molesting her further. The culprit then exposed his private parts and pressed it against the victim.
Shortly after, the victim went to bathe the culprit’s two-year-old granddaughter in the kitchen toilet. The victim got undressed as she also need to take a shower.
The culprit entered the toilet, undressed himself and made the victim sit on his lap and molested her. He also kissed her on the lips without her consent.
“After the above incidents, the victim no longer interacted with the accused and did not see him at his daughter’s house,” said DPP Sruthi.
“Through all three incidents set out above, the victim remained silent as she feared the accused and did not dare to confront him. She did not confide in anyone about the incidents until her interview with her social worker,” the prosecutor added.
After he was arrested, the man admitted to to his crimes, saying “he did so out of lust and as he felt the temptation to touch her especially whilst soaping her in the shower,” said DPP Sruthi.
“When other grandchildren or his daughter were present, he would be careful and quick when he touched the victim to ensure the acts would remain undetected,” she added.
For each of his charges of using criminal force to outrage the modesty of a person below 14, the man could have been jailed for up to five years and also fined.
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