S’porean ex-religious teacher, 20, gets reformatory training after asking girl, 12, to perform sex acts on him

A 20-year-old Singaporean man was ordered to undergo reformatory training for at least six months after getting a 12-year-old girl to perform sexual acts on him.

The man pleaded guilty to committing an indecent act with a child in December 2025 and was sentenced on Jun. 30, The Straits Times reported.

The accused cannot be named as a gag order was imposed to protect the victim’s identity.

Religious teacher

In earlier court proceedings, the man was reportedly the girl’s religious teacher in early 2025.

He taught her three classes in a group setting that involved about five to six pupils.

The accused obtained all of the pupils’ contact details and created a chat group to send them lesson notes.

After one of the lessons, the man spent time with the girl and reportedly bought her chocolates and lunch.

Her mother was informed of the situation and complained to the mosque.

He was subsequently removed from his appointment.

However, he and the girl secretly started a romantic relationship.

Sex acts

According to charge sheets seen by Mothership, on the afternoon of May 8, 2025, the man hugged and kissed the girl at a multi-storey carpark in the vicinity of Tampines 1.

Five days later, on the afternoon of May 13, 2025, the pair met at a staircase landing of an HDB block in the vicinity of Bedok Mall.

He reportedly requested the girl to perform oral sex on him, but she refused.

However, she was hugged, groped and kissed by the man.

Break up

The pair eventually broke up after third parties learned about their relationship.

The identities of the said parties were not disclosed.

The girl told her mother about the incident, and a police report was lodged in July 2025.

Sentencing

During sentencing, the judge noted that the offence involved skin-to-skin contact.

The pair’s age gap was also acknowledged.

The man requested probation, citing that he was remorseful and his parents regularly checked his phone to monitor his activities.

Refomative training

Reformative training is a rehabilitative sentencing option.

According to Singapore Prison Services, young offenders may undergo psychology-based correctional programmes, family and education programmes, employability skills training and personal development programmes, based on their rehabilitation needs.

They are also subjected to a strict regime that can include counselling sessions and foot drills.