A man is imprisoned for flogging for sexually abusing two young sisters who were under his care

SINGAPORE: A 35-year-old man was sentenced to 11 years in prison and seven strokes of the cane on Thursday (Nov 21) for sexually abusing two young girls who were in his care.

The man’s name cannot be given because he is related to the victims, who are sisters. He and their mother are cousins ​​once removed.

He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault, molestation and committing an obscene act on a child.

Another 10 charges were considered during the sentencing, mainly harassment charges.

The man acted as the girls’ guardian, and in 2019 he was entrusted with caring for them while their parents were at work, the court heard.

He began molesting his younger sister the same year, when she was between the ages of nine and ten, and then attacked his older sister as well.

The court heard the man sometimes stayed overnight at the girls’ home and slept next to them in the living room.

Between 2019 and 2021, he molested his younger sister four times at night in the living room.

She felt very uncomfortable with the man’s behavior and knew he was wrong, but she was afraid to speak up, the prosecutor’s office said.

The man also committed sexual offenses against his older sister seven times in 2020-2021, when she was 12-14 years old.

In one incident in 2021, he molested a girl at a Toys R Us in Vivocity, where they had gone to pick up a birthday present for the second victim.

Most of the crimes involved him molesting her at home and her pretending to sleep, stretching, or rolling over to get away from him.

He committed a sexual assault late on the evening of January 17, 2022, while he and the girl were sleeping in the living room.

The victim was awakened by the feeling of the man touching her. The prosecutor said she felt very disgusted by the attack and had flashbacks.

She was deeply troubled and two days later told her high school teacher that she had experienced sexual violence.

The case was transferred to the child protection representative, who notified the police, and the man was arrested the same day.

Deputy prosecutors Claire Poh and Eugene Lau asked for a minimum of 11 and a half years in prison and seven strokes of the cane for the man.

They argued that the victims were defenseless due to their young age, the abuse of trust placed in the perpetrator and the fact that the acts took place in the victims’ beds, which were supposed to be a safe haven.

They also pointed out the psychological harm done to the older sister, who to this day has flashbacks and nightmares triggered by reminders of the perpetrator, such as a word or a passer-by who looks like him.

“Paradoxically, she also feels guilty and worried about her uncle,” prosecutors said.

They also noted that the man had previously committed a relevant crime, as in 2011 he was imprisoned for molesting a teenager.

Defense lawyer Jonathan Wong said his client was “consumed by remorse and shame” and argued the alleged offenses were out of character.

He cited a report by a psychiatrist at the Institute of Mental Health that concluded the perpetrator may benefit from psychological intervention to address any underlying issues that may have perpetuated his behavior.

The lawyer argued that this meant there was hope for the man to heal the cause of his sexual crimes and reform completely.

Prosecutors, however, stated that there was no evidence indicating good prospects for social rehabilitation for him.