Probation for teen who asked sister to carry out sex act in exchange for K-pop merchandise
The prosecution said that the teenager's risk of sexual reoffending was “within a low range in the community” and that the two siblings are now living apart from each other.
SINGAPORE — A teenager molested his younger sister twice and also tried to get her to perform a sex act on him in return for merchandise from popular Korean pop group BTS.
On Wednesday (Jan 29), the 18-year-old, who cannot be named due to a court order to protect his sister’s identity, was sentenced in a district court to 21 months’ probation for his actions.
He also has to perform 150 hours of community service, attend a treatment programme and remain indoors from 10pm to 6am.
His mother posted a bond of S$5,000 to ensure his good behaviour.
Last December, he pleaded guilty to three charges of molestation and sexual exploitation of a child.
Another charge of using criminal force on his sister, who was aged 12 at the time, will be taken into consideration for sentencing.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Ryan Lim told the court that a report prepared to assess the teenager’s suitability for reformative training — a more severe punishment for younger offenders — showed that he was suitable for it.
Nevertheless, DPP Lim said the prosecution would not object to probation as a psychological report showed that the teenager’s risk of sexual reoffending was “within a low range in the community”.
The teen, who is a first-time offender, is also “willing to receive intervention” and has strong parental support, the prosecutor noted.
The teenager’s lawyer Kalidass Murugaiyan confirmed that arrangements have been made for the siblings to live separately from each other.
“I’m instructed that his mother is determined to do everything she can to ensure that (her son) is back on the straight and narrow,” the lawyer said.
The sister is currently living with their grandmother and “has not been observed to display negative changes in mood or behaviour”, DPP Lim added.
WHAT HAPPENED
The court heard that the first incident happened in January last year when he and his sister were at home.
She went to his room to talk about her homework and sat next to him on his bed. He suddenly touched her private parts over her shorts for a few seconds before she ran out of the room.
The next month, after the family had moved to a new home, he molested her again in their shared bedroom.
The pair of siblings were arguing over what television show to watch in the living room when he suddenly picked her up, carried her to the bedroom in a “princess carry” and laid her on his bed.
He then stroked her chest over her T-shirt. She responded by yelling at him to get out of the bedroom which he did.
Finally, on the evening of April 15, the girl returned home to find that their bedroom door was closed.
After knocking and waiting for a moment without getting a response, she opened the door and found him masturbating.
She went to the living room and he followed her, repeatedly asking her to masturbate him. He offered to buy her BTS merchandise in return.
She refused and made a police report at Ang Mo Kio South Neighbourhood Police Centre a week later.
