Man allegedly photographs 13-year-old boy in Toa Payoh toilet, threatens to post photos if he refuses sex

A 13-year-old boy was allegedly photographed by a stranger while using a toilet at Toa Payoh HDB Hub.

The man later threatened to make the images public if the boy refused to have sex with him.

Took photos from adjacent cubicle

According to a report by 8world, the incident took place at around 5pm on Jun. 30, at a toilet on the fourth floor of the mall.

Speaking to the Chinese-language media outlet, the boy's mother, surnamed Chen (transliteration) said her son was using the toilet near a music school when a man allegedly took photographs of him from above an adjacent cubicle.

The boy did not realise that he had been photographed at the time.

When he walked out of the cubicle, the man allegedly showed him the images on his phone and threatened to upload them to social media if he did not have sex with him.

Shocked and frightened, the boy's mother said her son rejected the man and left the toilet.

The man allegedly continued to follow him as far as Toa Payoh MRT station.

Suspect has yet to be caught

Chen told 8world she called the police after learning about the incident.

She also went back to the area to ask businesses for available CCTV footage and subsequently handed the relevant information over to the police.

She said investigators later told her that they had obtained CCTV footage and were working to identify the man.

However, it has been about two months after the incident and the man has yet to be arrested, said Chen.

"My son is very anxious and keeps asking why he hasn’t been caught after so long," she was quoted as saying.

She added that her son was still traumatised from the incident.

"Even though so much time has passed, he still gets scared sometimes when he thinks about it. He's afraid to go to the toilet alone," she told 8world.

Chen said she had advised her son not to enter a toilet alone if there was no one else inside.

She has also informed his school so that he could receive counselling.

She hopes the man can be identified and apprehended as soon as possible, and urged parents and children to remain vigilant in crowded public places.

In response to queries from 8world, the police confirmed that a report has been lodged and investigations are ongoing.