A man who was previously sent to a reformative institution for sexually assaulting his younger half-sister has been sentenced to 12 years’ jail and nine strokes of the cane after reoffending just months after his release.
The 23-year-old pleaded guilty in the High Court of Singapore on Monday (Jan 26), reported Lianhe Zaobao.
Despite being allowed to return home after his release and being forgiven by his family, the man committed further sexual offences against the victim, who is his half-sister from the same mother.
The court heard that the victim was assaulted on two separate occasions and suffered severe psychological trauma as a result. She later engaged in repeated self-harm, including injuring herself and attempting to harm herself using household items.
High Court Judge Mavis Chionh described the accused as a repeat offender who showed little regard for the opportunities given to him. She noted that he reoffended only months after leaving the reformative institution and urged him to reflect sincerely on the harm he had caused.
The latest offences took place on April 24, 2024. At the time, the accused was 21, and the victim was 15. He committed offences involving attempted sexual assault and molestation. The case was uncovered after the victim approached a patrolling police officer that afternoon to lodge a report.
To protect the victim, the court imposed a gag order preventing the disclosure of information that could identify her, including the accused’s name and the location of the offence.
According to the case facts, the accused and the victim moved to Singapore between 2016 and 2017 and lived with their mother and her new husband. After they began living together, the accused started sexually abusing the victim. One offence occurred in January 2020. He was arrested and in January 2023 was sent to a reformative institution.
Not allowed to be alone with sister, slipped into bedroom when no one was around
In late January 2024, the accused was released and allowed to return home under strict conditions, including three years of supervision and wearing an electronic monitoring device. Officers from the Ministry of Social and Family Development informed the family that the siblings were not allowed to be alone together and had to be closely supervised.
The mother arranged for a domestic helper to monitor both siblings daily. The accused slept in the living room, while the victim slept in a bedroom with the helper.
On the morning of the offence, the accused entered the bedroom while the victim was asleep and committed acts amounting to molestation and attempted sexual assault before leaving the room. The victim later reported the matter with encouragement from a friend.
The accused later sent messages asking for another chance. He did not return home that night and cut off his electronic monitoring device. He was arrested the following evening.
Psychiatric assessments found that the victim was suffering from anxiety and depressive disorders and exhibited borderline personality traits.
In her closing remarks, Justice Chionh said she hoped the victim would receive continued support from her family and the community, including counselling and treatment, to help her move forward.
