Advertisement

Trial begins for ex-coach accused of sexually abusing teenage girl

(PHOTO: Getty Images)
(PHOTO: Getty Images)

They became acquainted when he was appointed to coach her primary school’s skipping rope team.

Roger Yue Jr later invited the then 13-year-old girl to join his competitive team and even asked her to help coach teams from other schools. His intentions may not have been entirely pure, however, as he allegedly sexually assaulted and raped his young charge on multiple occasions between 2008 and late 2010.

The 59-year-old now faces seven charges for sexual offences committed against the girl. These include statutory rape, making her perform oral sex on him as well as abusing her with the handle of a skipping rope and a vibrator.

Forty-one additional charges against Yue have been stood down.

Yue, who is claiming trial, appeared in the dock on the first day of the trial at the High Court on Tuesday (21 November). He is currently out on bail and appeared in court dressed in a dark suit.

The victim, who is now 22, cannot be identified due to a gag order. She first became acquainted with Yue in 2005 when he was coaching her co-curricular activity group at school.

Yue allegedly committed indecent acts on the girl and also raped her at his studio, at her school and at his home. The abuse continued until late 2010 when the girl finally stopped associating with Yue.

Years later, the girl confided in her polytechnic lecturer and counsellor about what had happened and a police report was lodged in April 2014.

Deputy Public Prosecutors Winston Mun and Nicholas Lai are looking to cite 15 witnesses during the trial, with the victim having taken the stand in-camera on Tuesday.

Yue is represented by Peter Fernando. If found guilty of of rape and sexual penetration, he faces up to 20 years’ jail and a fine.

More Singapore stories:

Man who broke into woman’s home, raped her gets 21 years’ jail, 18 stroke

Former army regular jailed for repeatedly abusing maid