A 29-year-old man was sentenced to 15 years in jail and 12 strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to charges of aggravated rape, sexual exploitation of a child, and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of his 11-year-old stepdaughter. The man, who cannot be named due to a gag order protecting the victim’s identity, committed the offenses between November and December 2022. Nine additional charges, including performing sexual acts of self-gratification in the victim’s presence, were taken into consideration during sentencing.
The man married the victim’s mother in 2019, and they moved into a one-bedroom flat with her three children from a previous marriage. The victim and her two older brothers shared the living room with the couple, with the victim sleeping on a sofa beside her mother and stepfather. The abuse began when the man, frustrated after being interrupted by the victim during an intimate moment with her mother, decided to watch porn and pleasure himself in the living room. Noticing the victim was awake, he coerced her into performing a sex act on him despite her resistance. He later touched her, telling her to trust him and that he would “make it fast.” The victim, feeling helpless, did not report the abuse to her mother, fearing her anger.
The abuse continued over the following weeks. On another occasion, the man again performed sexual acts on the victim, causing her pain, and pressured her into performing a sex act on him. He later sent her a text message asking her to record a video of him and her mother engaging in sex. The victim, relieved that she was not the target of his advances this time, complied and recorded the act as instructed. In December 2022, the victim confided in her brother, who encouraged her to report the abuse. However, she refused, fearing it would hurt her mother and disrupt the family. The brother eventually informed their mother in January 2023, but the family decided to forgive the man to avoid breaking apart. He continued living with them until his arrest in May 2023.
The victim’s plight came to light when her tuition teacher noticed cuts on her forearm. Initially dismissing them as cat scratches, the victim eventually revealed her feelings of worthlessness and suicidal thoughts to a social worker. The social worker contacted the victim’s mother, who disclosed the abuse. The victim was taken to a hospital for examination, and a police report was filed. Despite the arrest, the victim expressed concern about the family’s stability.
During sentencing, Deputy Public Prosecutor Kathy Chu described the man’s actions as “disturbing” and “perverse,” emphasizing his exploitation of the victim for personal gratification. The prosecution sought 14 to 15 years’ jail and 12 strokes of the cane, while the defense requested a shorter sentence of 12 to 13 years. The man’s lawyer, Teo Choo Kee, stated that his client was “very repentant” and sought forgiveness from those he had hurt.
Justice Aidan Xu condemned the man’s actions, calling them “heinous and depraved.” He highlighted the victim’s heartbreaking reaction to being asked to record her parents’ sexual act, noting her relief at not being assaulted again. The judge commended the tuition teacher and social worker for their vigilance and expressed hope that the victim would recover from the trauma. The case underscores the devastating impact of sexual abuse and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
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