Runaway 13-year-old girl sexually abused by 'godfather'
SINGAPORE — The 13-year-old girl treated Ng Beng Kiong as her godfather and would stay at his flat whenever she ran away from home or skipped school.
Ng, 48, would in turn send her to school and give her food, cigarettes and, at times, even pocket money. However, the cook also sexually assaulted the girl on two occasions while she was at his one-room flat.
At the State Courts on Tuesday (26 November), Ng pleaded guilty to one count each of sexual penetration of a minor under 14, obstructing the course of justice, and aggravated molest.
Given his history of past offences, he was also ordered to undergo an assessment to ascertain his suitability for preventive detention. This form of punishment aims to protect the public from recalcitrant offenders, who usually serve prison terms of between seven and 20 years without early release for good behaviour.
Accused befriended runaway girl
Ng first met the victim in 2017 while she was hanging out with some friends along Bedok North Street 3 after running away from home. He approached the group and introduced himself as “Papa” before giving them cigarettes. The girl would later see him each time she visited the area.
As the two grew closer, the girl began to regard Ng as her godfather. Ng, who is divorced and has two children of his own, also treated the girl like a daughter and would send her daily text messages as well as ferry her to and from school. She would also stay at Ng’s flat whenever she ran away from home or skipped school.
The girl later introduced a female schoolmate to Ng and the three would spend time together at Ng’s flat, with both girls treating the home as a safe haven. Ng would provide them food, cigarettes and, occasionally, pocket money.
A few months into this arrangement, Ng began giving unsolicited massages to the girls.
Sometime between August and September 2017, the two girls visited Ng’s flat. At some point the victim was left alone with Ng.
While she was on Ng’s bed using her phone, Ng sat close to her and began massaging her legs over her jeans. He then pulled down her jeans and panties.
When the victim told Ng that his actions were making her uncomfortable, Ng told her to relax before sexually assaulting her.
The victim felt uncomfortable and asked him to stop, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Zu Zhao. Ng complied with the victim’s request.
Sometime between December 2017 and January last year, while the two girls were sleeping next to each other at the flat, the victim woke to find that Ng had pulled down her jeans and panties while she was asleep.
The victim hurriedly dressed herself and Ng apologised for his actions. At some point, the girl’s mother found out about Ng’s behaviour and a police report was lodged on 25 January last year.
Ng then went on the run after the girl told him about the police report.
While in hiding, the man berated the girl over Instagram for her alleged betrayal and reminded her that he had previously helped her. He also asked her what she had told the police as he wanted to tailor the evidence he eventually gave to the authorities.
Ng spoke to both the victim and her friend before surrendering to the police on 26 February last year.
Committed similar offences in the past
DPP Lee told the court that Ng’s criminal history spanned three decades, with offences including the possession of offensive weapons, theft, armed robbery, possession of obscene films, causing hurt, and criminal intimidation.
His most recent conviction took place in 2006, when Ng was given seven years’ corrective training for molest and rape.
The prosecutor pointed out “alarming similarities” between Ng’s present case and his 2006 offence.
“The victim involved (in the 2006 case) was a 16-year-old and vulnerable because of moderate mental retardation. In the present case, the victim is (a 13-year-old) female also vulnerable as she ran away from home and was taken advantage of by the accused,” he said.
In the 2006 case, Ng befriended the victim and her mother after meeting them in their neighbourhood. While visiting their flat, he entered the toilet while the victim was bathing and molested her. Ng also raped the victim while she was left alone with him in the flat, and then went into hiding after realising that the police were after him.
Offered to surrender after Chinese New Year
In mitigation, Ng’s lawyer T.M. Sinnadurai said Ng had sought to improve himself by taking up courses following his previous convictions. Ng, who had worked as a cook since 2013, had obtained a SkillsFuture certificate in staff management in 2017, the lawyer noted.
Ng also supported his parents, who are in their 80s, as well as his sons – one of whom has a spinal condition. In his own defence, Ng told the court that he had not intended to sexually groom his most recent victim and that the girl had been a friend to his son.
While on the run, Ng had told an investigation officer that he wanted to surrender after the Chinese New Year period as he wanted to see through the festive season first.
Ng will be sentenced on 23 December.
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