Man, 19, gets jail & cane for sex with underaged girls after reoffending multiple times

A 19-year-old man was sentenced on Aug. 28 to eight years and two months of jail and six strokes of the cane for having sexual intercourse with girls under the age of 16 while on probation for the same offence.

The man was 15 when he first committed the offences in 2021.

Received probation for first six offences

The identities of the offender cannot be named as he was under 18 at the time of the offence and the identities of the victims are also protected by gag order.

In August 2021, the man was found guilty in the Youth Court of charges including sexual penetration of six young girls aged 12 and 15, according to the judgement, CNA reported.

He was sentenced to 24 months' probation with two weeks' detention.

Met Girl 1 before probation ended

In March 2023, he met a 13-year-old girl via a social dating app and went for meal.

Later, they went to a staircase landing where they hugged and kissed, CNA wrote.

The two then went back to the offender's home where they had unprotected sex with the 13-year-old's consent.

She blocked the offender on social media later that month as she wanted to forget what happened.

In September 2023, she lodged a police report after she confided in a friend about the incident, who encouraged her to tell her school.

Met Girl 2 two months after V1, charged

In May 2023, the offender met another 13-year-old girl through Instagram.

The two went to a Serangoon mall before going to his bedroom where they engaged in sexual acts.

She later confided in her grandfather out of fear she might be pregnant and lodged a police report in June 2023.

In August 2023, the offender was charged in court for the new offences against V1 and V2.

He pled guilty in May 2024 for offences involving the two 13-year-olds and was remanded for one week to assess his suitability for reformative training.

Met another girl a month after pleading guilty

In June 2024, while being assessed, the offender met yet another 13-year old girl on Instagram, met up with her, and engaged in a sex act.

The offender was 17 at the time.

Between Jul. 19 to Jul. 24, the offender was remanded for his earlier offences, CNA wrote.

When released, he reached out to the girl again and asked to meet, to which she agreed.

Now 14, she went to the offender's home sometime between Jul. 26 and 31 and had unprotected sex.

The court noted that the girl consented "because she liked him", CNA reported.

In August 2024, the incident was reported to the police by her mother.

The offender entered remand in October 2024 and pled guilty to four charges of sexual penetration of the three girls.

According to CNA, another eight charges were considered and these include offences against two other girls, who were aged between 13 and 15 at the time.

Judgement

Defence points out consent was given

Deputy Public Prosecutors (DPP) Sruthi Boppana and Grace Teo told that court that the offender desmonstrated a "complete lack of regard for the law".

While they had initially asked the court to call for a report to assess the offender's suitability for reformative training, they changed their position and sought imprisonment with caning after the offender repeatedly reoffend.

They sought a jail term of between seven years and 14 months' jail and eight years and 16 months, with nine strokes of the cane.

The offender's representation, Daryl Lim from the Public Defender's Office, argued that the age gap between the offender and the victims was "relatively small" and there was "factual consent" given, CNA reported.

Lim pointed out that the offender pled guilty at the earliest opportunity and that there was neither premeditation nor predatory behaviour in any of the offence.

He sought reformative training or a total jail term of four years and eight months, but later revised this to six years and two months.

Beyond rehabilitation

District Judge Kessler Soh sided with the prosecution that the sentencing principles of deterrence and retribution had far surpassed rehabilitation.

Citing a High Court case, Soh said that Section 376A is meant to protect the bodily and sexual integrity of minors.

The penetrative sexual offences represent "a grave intrusion into the sexual integrity of minors", the judge said, CNA wrote.

Soh also dismissed the significance of consent, pointing out that sexual offences committed against young victims are inherently serious.

He said that the offences caused "potentially serious harm" to the "young and vulnerable" victims, and described the offender as "hardened and recalcitrant", according to CNA.

Soh said that it was clear rehabilitation did not work and court proceedings did not deter the offender either.

The offences only stopped after his bail was revoked and he was remanded with no bail from Oct. 21, 2024, Soh highlighted.

The offender will be appealing the sentence, CNA reported.

Top image via Mothership