Youth accused of molesting 7 underage boys and a girl, some when he was 14 years old
It is unclear how the accused knew the alleged victims, who cannot be named to protect their identities.
SINGAPORE — A 21-year-old man returned to court on Friday (Nov 20) over allegations that he molested eight minors, both male and female, over a span of seven years.
He is also accused of sexually assaulting two of them when he was himself underage.
His identity is not protected under a gag order. However, due to recent amendments to the Children and Young Persons Act, the media is not allowed to name him because he allegedly committed some offences when he was under 18.
The Singaporean was first charged in October, and now faces 10 counts of molestation and sexual assault by penetration of a minor.
A police prosecutor told the court on Friday that an Institute of Mental Health (IMH) report showed that he committed more similar offences while being investigated for others.
It is unclear how the accused knew the alleged victims. They cannot be named to protect their identities.
Court documents showed that between 2013 and 2014, the accused purportedly targeted an eight-year-old girl — the sole female — and an eight-year-old boy at a playground in the MacPherson area.
He allegedly made them touch his private parts and give him oral sex without their consent. He was 14 years old at the time.
In 2015, he allegedly molested three boys. He targeted one in a Shaw movie theatre at Nex mall in Serangoon, and the other two in a bus on separate occasions.
He is said to have taken their hands and placed them on his crotch.
In October last year, when he was 20 years old, he allegedly fondled a 12-year-old boy’s genitals in the men’s toilet of Nerf Action Xperience in Marina Square mall.
In February this year, he reportedly molested a boy at a staircase landing in Nex mall.
Finally, on Aug 15, he is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy in a toilet for people with disabilities while on Sentosa Island. He allegedly licked the base of the boy’s foot as well.
He has been in remand since last month and will return to court on Dec 23.
The police prosecutor said that no bail should be offered due to the IMH report and “for the safety and security of the public”.
Defence lawyer Marshall Lim from Invictus Law Corporation told the court that he had just been hired by the accused’s parents. He told TODAY that it was the first time he had seen his client.
If convicted of molesting a minor under 14, the youth could be jailed for up to five years, fined or caned, or any combination of the three.
Sexual assault by penetration of a minor carries at least eight years’ jail and a maximum of 20 years’ jail, with at least 12 strokes of the cane.
