S'pore swimming coach, 49, convicted of molesting girl, 10, by touching her underwater during swim classes

A male Singaporean swimming coach, 49, was convicted of molesting a 10-year-old girl by touching her underwater during their swimming classes.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charges, arguing that the girl had accused him of molestation because she disliked him and wanted a new swimming coach.

Molested underwater

Shin Min Daily News wrote that the 10-year-old victim, her younger sister and elder brother attended the man's swimming class for the first time on Oct. 7, 2023.

The victim realised that, on a few occasions on the 14th, 21st and 28th, the accused would approach her from behind whenever she stood in the pool and molest her under the water with his hands.

As it had frequently occurred, during the class on the 28th, the victim asked her younger sister if she had a similar experience.

Her sister said "yes".

The two girls then agreed on a coded hand signal for when either of them was touched inappropriately.

However, the victim could not recall the signal she had assigned to her sister.

The victim said that she was molested by the accused three times that day.

She informed her father the next day.

Her father then called the accused to question him.

The accused stammered in his reply, and the father alerted the police.

Accused claims victim made up lies

The accused explained that he has 20 years of coaching experience.

Whenever he coached students, he would limit contact to their palms, arms or calves.

He said he would not touch anywhere between the student's neck and thigh.

He accused the victim of despising him and of making up lies to get a new coach.

Made unnecessary body contact with victim

The prosecution said that according to the testimony from the victim's father, the two daughters had not requested to change their swimming coach.

He also said that they enjoyed swimming.

The victim also said that had she wanted a new coach, she would simply ask their parents and did not have to lie about it.

The prosecution also pointed out that, based on the swimming pool's closed-circuit television footage, the accused would keep close to the victim.

From time to time, he would also make unnecessary body contact with the victim, similar to what the victim described in her testimony.

The court convicted the accused on his charges, and there will be a further court mention on Jul. 23, Shin Min wrote.