Reformative training for teen who sexually abused sister
File photo of the State Courts. Photo: Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE — In part resentful of how his parents had left him in the care of his grandparents while they went abroad to study, a teenager took it out on his younger sister by sexually abusing her on several occasions over two years.
The 18-year-old, who cannot be named due to a court gag order, also committed the sexual offence out of curiosity, the community court heard.
The Malaysian, who is also a Singapore permanent resident, had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of sexually penetrating his sister, who was below 16 years old, without her consent. Three other similar charges were taken into consideration for sentencing.
Yesterday (Dec 3), District Judge Mathew Joseph sent the teenager to the Reformative Training Centre. An RTC stint lasts between 18 months and three years, and includes regular foot drills and counselling.
The teenager was raised by his grandparents till he was seven as his parents had gone to the United States to study. His sister was born in the US while her parents were studying there, and brought back to Singapore when she was two.
Back here, the parents had tried to keep the siblings apart as much as possible after they found out about earlier instances of sexual abuse some time between 2011 and 2012. But on Sept 26, 2013, the siblings were left alone at home when the victim, then 10, was ill and stayed home to rest. The teenager, then 16, returned home from school and approached his sister, who was watching television while seated on a sofa in the living room.
He then molested and sexually abused her, stopping only after she repeatedly asked him to leave. The incident came to light after a school counsellor asked about the victim’s home environment the following month.
An Institute of Mental Health report found that the teenager has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder.
In meting out the sentence, DJ Joseph described the case as both disturbing and deeply painful for the victim.
He added that while the teenager had a poor relationship with his parents and wanted to exact vengeance, “two wrongs don’t make a right”.
