SINGAPORE - A teenager who allegedly confessed in a video to sexually assaulting a girl will be remanded for psychiatric observation at the Changi Prison Complex Medical Centre. The 18-year-old, who is currently remanded at the Central Police Division, appeared in a district court via video-link on Thursday (Dec 2). He cannot be named because of a gag order, and his case has been adjourned to Dec 23. The Singaporean teenager is accused of one count each of sexual penetration and being part of an unlawful assembly in which one person was armed with a baton - a deadly weapon. The youth is said to have sexually penetrated a 14-year-old girl without her consent in Towner Road, near Serangoon Road, between 5pm and 9pm on Sept 21. In an earlier statement, the police said: "(On Nov 22, officers) received multiple reports after the man allegedly confessed to sexually assaulting a girl in a video that was uploaded on social media. "The police commenced investigations immediately and arrested the man (the next day). Investigations are ongoing to determine if there are other victims involved." The police said they take all reports of sexual assault seriously and will spare no effort to ensure that perpetrators are dealt with severely and in accordance with the law. They added: "Victims of sexual assault are encouraged to come forward to report a crime. The police adopt a victim-centric approach to sexual crime investigations, and victims will be handled sensitively during the investigation process." Separately, at around 10.20pm on Oct 4, the 18-year-old youth is said to have been among 11 teenagers and men accused of unlawfully gathering on the second storey of a Woodlands Close building. They were between 15 and 24 years old. They were allegedly there to assault a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named under the Children and Young Persons Act to protect those below 18. The names of the 11 alleged offenders have also been redacted from court documents. No details were given on the identity of the person who is said to have been armed with the baton. If convicted of sexually penetrating the girl, the youth can be jailed for up to 20 years and fined or caned. Those convicted of being a member of an unlawful assembly armed with a deadly weapon can be jailed for up to five years, fined or caned, or receive any combination of such punishments. More on this topic Related Story Teen who allegedly confessed in video to sexual assault also accused of taking part in unlawful assembly Related Story Courts & Crime: Read more stories
SINGAPORE - In the sleepless hours after she had been raped by a man she once thought she would marry, Bella (not her real name), felt lost. The 23-year-old was alone at home as her parents were away. She could hardly face the thought of making a police report. Speaking to The Straits Times about the assault by her former fiance on June 15, 2019, she said: "It's hard to say, but it felt like it was the end. I couldn't think or sleep. I just laid down and cried. I never expected him to do that." Bella was hesitant about going to the cops not only because she was afraid to tell her parents what had happened, but also because the process seemed so daunting. A friend who went to her home the next morning eventually convinced her to do so and accompanied her to the police post. In February this year, the man was sentenced to eight years' jail and given six strokes of the cane. Bella said being interviewed, undergoing a medical examination and the court processes that followed were made easier because her investigating officer (IO) reassured her and kept her updated whenever she asked questions. He even offered to be there when she told her parents, but Bella did it on her own. Referring to her attacker, Bella said: "When he was arrested, I sometimes asked myself if reporting him was the wrong decision because he is young and his family relied on him financially. When I had those thoughts, I would tell my IO and he would tell me, 'you did the right thing'." And after she had read the statements by the accused about how he had raped her to get her pregnant, she realised she should not have felt bad for him. Since he pleaded guilty, Bella did not have to go to court. Her IO told her about the outcome, which brought her a huge sense of relief. "Other women need to know it's OK to report. Because if they don't, the guy could do the same to other people. It's also for (the victim's) own safety too because he could return and do it again," she said. Her case is one of the hundreds of rape cases that are reported to the Serious Sexual Crime Branch (SSCB) of the Criminal Investigation Department every year. And the numbers are increasing. In 2018, SSCB handled 213 rape cases. There were 281 cases in 2019, and 348 last year. In most of them, the men accused were known to the victims. The Association of Women for Action and Research's (Aware) Sexual Assault Care Centre has seen a fairly constant number of rape and sexual assault by penetration cases over the past three years. There were 266 in 2018, 270 in 2019 and 258 last year. Yet, Aware's head of research and advocacy, Ms Shailey Hingorani, said that among the centre's clients, who include survivors of other forms of sexual assault, seven in 10 choose not to file an official report. She said: "The reports received by the police are likely only a small fraction of the true incidence of sexual violence in Singapore." The issue of how survivors of rape are treated when they make reports surfaced in Parliament last month. Workers' Party MP Raeesah Khan had said she had accompanied a rape survivor to make a police report three years ago, but the 25-year-old woman came out of the police station crying after the police officer allegedly commented on her dressing and the fact that she was drinking. Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Tan responded that allegations of the police mishandling a sexual assault case are serious and need to be investigated. Ms Raeesah then said she did not wish to re-traumatise the victim and the intention of her speech was not to cast aspersions on the police. She said: "The police is part of the solution, not the problem." More on this topic Related Story MPs call for protection of those falsely accused of sexual crimes Related Story More must be done to prevent violence against women: PM Lee Yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said a White Paper with concrete proposals to tackle issues concerning women will be presented in Parliament early next year. On violence against women, he said: "Victims must be able to seek help easily, and without suffering additional distress. More importantly, victims must not have cause to fear that they themselves will be blamed or shamed for what has happened to them, and therefore suffer in silence." All rape cases here are handled by SSCB IOs who undergo specialised training to learn how to strike a balance between sensitivity towards the victim's emotional trauma and their fact-finding goals. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kimberly Ang, an officer-in-charge of a team in the SSCB, told ST: "Whatever facts we need to know from them (victims) is to help in the investigation. It's not because we want to judge them in any way. The only way for us to do that is to build some kind of rapport (and) trust from the beginning so they feel safe." Victims are also offered a victim care officer (VCO) for practical and emotional support throughout the investigation and criminal justice process. There are currently 113 VCOs - volunteers who have backgrounds in psychology, counselling, or social work, and who are selected and trained by the Police Psychological Services Department. Ms Poh Hui Ping, a senior VCO who was part of the first batch appointed in 2014, said: "Most importantly, we must ensure they know we are willing to listen, and they are not alone." Police psychologist Tiffany Nicole Danker said regular police officers also go through a module on sensitivity training in their basic courses. It covers theory on victims and trauma, active listening skills and a safety-emotion-information model to organise a victim's needs. Ms Danker said SSCB IOs ask questions that may make it seem that they do not believe the victims. But they need to ask these questions to get the information to build the case. She added: "It's about how they can go about it in a way that is more empathetic and more supportive." More on this topic Related Story Why knowing sexual history and what victim wore could help police in rape investigations Related Story Building rapport with victims key to solving sex crimes, says police officer On the increasing rape cases, some observers said this could be due to more women coming forward to report the assaults. Invictus Law Corporation associate director Cory Wong said the numbers may include attacks not reported until years later. He said: "We have had cases of delayed reporting (in which) victims were violated as a child and only later reported it as an adult." Mr Sunil Sudheesan, president of the Association of Criminal Lawyers of Singapore, told ST: "If wrongs have been done, victims should seek advice and lodge reports. Victims should not bury things. I sense a continued uptrend of police reports when sex has objectively taken place. The issue then is evaluating whether there was legitimate consent or not." Consent becomes more contentious when alcohol is involved, noted Quahe Woo & Palmer associate director Diana Ngiam. She said: "The courts have been looking objectively at whether the complainant is in a position to give consent." She added that under the Penal Code, one cannot give proper consent if one is intoxicated to the extent that one is unable to understand the nature and consequences of one's purported consent. Aside from legislative measures and efforts by the authorities, more can be done to tackle the issue of rape and encourage victims to come forward, say observers. Head lawyer Gloria James of law firm Gloria James-Civetta & Co said: "More attention can be (paid to) counselling victims and rehabilitating perpetrators... No amount of new legislation is going to be fully effective unless men and women are better educated on how to respectfully treat one another." More on this topic Related Story About 40% of sexual assault cases from 2017 to 2019 involved victims below 16 Related Story Why it's hard for sexual assault victims to come forward About the case After Bella (not her real name) broke up with her fiance in May 2019, he would not leave her alone. She rejected his attempts at reconciliation. About a month later, the man, then 20, went into her unlocked home, knowing she was alone, and raped her. On Feb 22 this year, he was sentenced to eight years' jail and given six strokes of the cane. Deputy public prosecutors James Chew and Grace Teo urged the court to impose 10 years' jail and six strokes of the cane. They said: "A person's home is their sanctuary. A woman has a sacrosanct right to her bodily integrity. This case involves a flagrant and deplorable breach of both these inviolable principles." On June 15, 2019, Bella went out at around 6pm to buy groceries and was approached by the accused at her void deck. He insisted on accompanying her to the mall. Later, they argued about their relationship, and Bella told him not to follow her home. The pair continued to argue over WhatsApp. At around 9pm, she sent him a message saying, "im sick dont disturb me alr. Let me move on". His reply was to ask her to open the door. He knew her parents had a habit of going to Johor Baru on weekends and were not home. She was in her bedroom when she heard someone opening the door to the flat that she had left unlocked. The accused then entered her room. They went to the living room where they argued again. Bella asked him to leave but he threatened to impregnate her so she would have to rekindle their relationship. As she stood up and told him to go, he grabbed her right arm and pulled her into her bedroom where he raped her. Afterwards, she went crying to the toilet to wash up. He told her not to cry, and said he would help her get an abortion. He then left. At around midnight, Bella sent him a message saying she wanted to commit suicide. She also sent him a video of her holding a knife pointed at herself. The next day, she told a friend, who convinced her to file a police report. She did not get pregnant. More on this topic Related Story Many cases of child sexual abuse by family members stay buried for years Related Story Why one woman did not dare to tell her mum about grandpa's sexual attacks Helplines Big Love Child Protection Specialist Centre: 6445-0400, contact@biglove.org.sg (weekdays 9am to 6pm) National Anti-Violence Helpline: 1800-777-0000 (24 hours) Aware's Sexual Assault Care Centre: 6779-0282 (weekdays 10am to 6pm) Tinkle Friend (for children): 1800-274-4788 (weekdays 2.30pm to 5.00pm), Online chat (Mon to Thurs 2.30pm to 7.00pm; Fri 2.30pm - 5.00pm)
SINGAPORE - It might be a deeply personal issue for some, and others might even be offended when asked. But knowing about a rape victim's sexual history is important in rape investigations, said the police and criminal lawyers. Not only does it help in analysing forensic medical examinations, but it also helps investigating officers pose questions about the assault to victims in a way they would be comfortable with, said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kimberly Ang. DSP Ang, an officer-in-charge of a team at the Serious Sexual Crime Branch (SSCB) in the Criminal Investigation Department, told The Sunday Times: "We need to know so we can calibrate how we ask questions because some people may not understand the words we use." She added that if the victim is a child or someone who may be new to sexual acts, the person might be more comfortable communicating through dolls, drawings or writing. This is where the training and assessment on victim management for SSCB officers come in. DSP Ang, who has been with the SSCB for two years, added: "The challenge is building the trust (and) a rapport from the start. When we are able to do that from the beginning, the rest actually flows quite naturally." Defence lawyers said that relevance is key, in court, if they wish to bring up the sexual history of an alleged victim. Since 2018, the accused or his counsel has been required to get the court's permission before they can adduce evidence or ask the victim questions about physical appearance or sexual behaviour which does not relate to the charge. Mr Sunil Sudheesan, president of the Association of Criminal Lawyers of Singapore, said: "When we talk about sexual history with other persons, to me, it's not relevant to the incident with this new perpetrator." However, Mr Cory Wong from Invictus Law Corporation suggested that one instance in which a victim's sexual history could be relevant is if there is reasonable doubt as to whether vaginal tears found during the medical examination are linked to a separate instance of consensual sex instead of the alleged rape. Ultimately, Ms Gloria James of Gloria James-Civetta & Co stressed, the questioning of sexual history in police investigations should not get misconstrued and no one should draw their own conclusions on a victim or the incident as whole. She said: "This act of 'victim-blaming' is archaic and has no place in our current society." Why what victim wore could matter For reasons as simple as locating the victim on closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, or retrieving items for forensic analysis, what the victim wore during the assault is important to uncover the facts. It should not be construed as judging or placing blame on the victim, said defence lawyers and a police investigating officer. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kimberly Ang, an officer-in-charge of a team at the Serious Sexual Crime Branch in the Criminal Investigation Department, said that she understood why a layman would think that officers asking a victim what she wore could sound like they were imposing responsibility on the victim. DSP Ang explained that the line of questioning is part of the fact-finding process. For example, when investigators are going through CCTV footage, they need to know what the victim was wearing to be able to find her. She added: "Understandably for victims, when you're asking them intrusive or sensitive questions before they are willing to share, they're not going to just tell a total stranger. And they will be worried what (the investigating officer) thinks of them." More on this topic Related Story Helping rape victims in Singapore who come forward Related Story Building rapport with victims key to solving sex crimes, says police officer Officers reassure the victims not to worry about the officers' opinion about them, because they are concerned only with finding out the facts to help the victims, said DSP Ang. Defence lawyers also emphasised the objective need to ask questions about clothing. Ms Gloria James from Gloria James-Civetta & Co said: "While we understand the concerns that arise from such questions, questions on clothing may be useful in identifying victims from video footage which the authorities may have. This could be useful to trace an unknown perpetrator, or for them to retain the clothing for forensic analysis." Aside from helping to identify the people involved, Ms Joyce Khoo from Quahe Woo & Palmer noted that dress choices could be relevant in establishing whether force was used to remove articles of clothing. She added: "Issues surrounding promiscuity are irrelevant to consent and do little to help any defence." More on this topic Related Story More must be done to prevent violence against women: PM Lee Related Story MPs call for protection of those falsely accused of sexual crimes
SINGAPORE - YouTuber Darryl Ian Koshy, 32, better known as Dee Kosh, appeared in a district court on Thursday (Aug 19) and was charged with offences including three counts of offering cash to boys below 18 for sexual services. Koshy, who was handed seven charges in all, is also accused of three offences under the Films Act and one under the Children and Young Persons Act. His alleged offences involved at least four boys between 15 and 17 years old. The Singaporean is accused of offering $2,000 to a 16-year-old boy in February 2017 in exchange for allowing him to perform oral sex on the teenager. According to court documents, between March and June 2018, Koshy allegedly attempted to procure an indecent act from a 15-year-old boy by asking the latter to perform sexual acts in exchange for an undisclosed sum of money. The YouTuber is said to have offered $1,000 to a 17-year-old boy in July that year in exchange for oral sex from the teenager. In August last year, Koshy allegedly offered $1,000 to another 17-year-old boy for a similar act. The court documents did not state if the alleged victims accepted the offers. Koshy had made a name for himself with parody music videos and won notice for his stand-up comedy. Accusations against him first made the headlines last year. At the time, he had 380,000 followers on his YouTube channel and was known for food reviews on the Night Owl Cinematics (NOC) YouTube channel. In an earlier statement, NOC said it had received a request from Koshy's management "for him to be released of any professional service engagement with us". It added: "We can confirm that he has no outstanding or ongoing projects with NOC at present. "All further collaborations with Dee Kosh have been put on hold indefinitely." Several firms that Koshy had previously worked with, including Huawei, Foodpanda and Lenovo, also said earlier that their engagements with him had ended and there were no ongoing or future projects planned. Power 98 FM, where he used to host weekday night shows, said last year that he had been put on leave and that the station "does not tolerate any form of harassment". Koshy’s bail was set at $20,000 on Thursday and his case has been adjourned to Sept 15. For each count of offering cash to a youngster below 18 in exchange for sexual services, an offender can be jailed for up to two years and fined. More on this topic Related Story Celebrities, Aware weigh in on sexual harassment claims against DJ Dee Kosh Related Story Courts & Crime: Read more stories
SINGAPORE - For a number of years, former primary school teacher Chock Soon Seng taught Chinese to primary and secondary school students as a freelance tutor. But he had a dark secret - the 43-year-old was convicted twice for sexually abusing boys. He was jailed for 10 months in 2010, when as a primary school teacher, he tried to persuade two 13-year-old boys to let him watch them perform a sexual act. In 2014, he was sentenced to three years' jail for offences that included sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy and threatening to put his naked pictures online. The tutor struck again, abusing two underage boys, and in April this year, he was sentenced to six strokes of the cane and eight years of corrective training for four counts of sexual penetration. Corrective training is usually imposed on repeat offenders, without the usual one-third remission for good behaviour. The case is the latest to throw light on the sentencing and rehabilitation regimes of sexual offenders who target children, and comes amid a report in January that showed 2,798 victims below 16, and 1,000 victims between 16 and 20 years old, were sexually assaulted from 2017 to 2019. People who have committed serious offences, which include serious sexual offences against children, are required to undergo the mandatory supervision and aftercare support under the Mandatory Aftercare Scheme upon their release. Implemented in 2014, conditions include counselling sessions, curfews and electronic monitoring or tagging. Prior to the regime, some offenders could have been released without being subject to additional conditions. Ms Arvina Manoo, senior psychologist and assistant director of the sexual violence unit at the Psychological and Correctional Rehabilitation Division of Singapore Prison Service, told The Straits Times: "Not all offenders who commit sexual acts against children present with paedophilia or mental health conditions." While behind bars, people convicted of sexual offences against children may undergo a psychological assessment to determine their risk of reoffending and intervention needs. The psychological intervention aims to help them address problems with interpersonal relationships, emotional regulation, and negative attitudes that support sexual offending. They may also be referred to agencies in the community for further counselling and support after their release. Dr Christopher Cheok, senior consultant and acting chief of the department of forensic psychiatry at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), said that medication to manage sexual arousal is available to those who display paedophilic tendencies. "The use of these medications should be discussed with a doctor," he cautioned. More on this topic Related Story Screening systems in different countries for those who work with children Related Story Child molester gets preventive detention for reoffending 10 months after prison release Ms Arvina said that some key factors that are associated with the sexual abuse of children by adults include social difficulties such as social isolation, loneliness and deviant sexual fantasies. "Apart from individual factors, situational and environmental factors can also play a key role in sexual offending against children. Proximity or easy access to children can facilitate offending. Other factors may include the development of unhealthy beliefs about children and sex through exposure to child sexual abuse material," she added. Dr Cheok noted that there is a range of sexual desires. "For example, a person may not be exclusively a paedophile; he may be aroused by either adolescents or adults," he added, noting that most paedophiles are male. "A paedophile may also just have fantasies regarding pre-pubescent children without assaulting any victims. A sex offender who preys on children, on the other hand, is someone who acted on a victim and who has been caught. "It is also important to know the level of distress experienced by the person arising from his paedophilic desires, his personal value system and his ability to control himself. For example, would he have access to a potential victim within or outside the family, and if he does, would he be able to resist preying on the child?" Both experts addressed proximity to potential victims, which begs the question if repeat offenders, like Chock, should be allowed to work with children. More on this topic Related Story Briton who molested toddler at learning centre sentenced to jail and caning Related Story Probation for autistic piano teacher who molested 5-year-old In April, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said in a parliamentary reply that the Ministry of Home Affairs is considering whether to make it mandatory for everyone employed in sectors involving children to be screened. "The approach taken today is to try and balance between ensuring that persons who have committed serious sexual crimes are not employed in positions which may put children at risk; and at the same time, not to add to the stigmatisation of ex-offenders and hinder their rehabilitation and reintegration," he explained. The police have a non-public record of those convicted of serious offences, including sexual offences. The Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Social and Family Development, for example, work closely with the police to screen prospective employees whose job involves children. Under the Education Act, centres offering tuition or enrichment programmes to 10 or more students must be registered with MOE. Tutors at these centres must also be registered and declare if they have been convicted of any offence punishable with imprisonment. Last month, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said in a parliamentary reply that MOE will not register any applicant who has been convicted of serious offences, including sexual offences, but these regulations do not cover freelance tutors who offer private tuition outside of centres. "As private tuition is a commercial business, we encourage parents to exercise discretion and due diligence in engaging the services of tuition and enrichment centres, as well as individual tutors," he said. ST ILLUSTRATION: MANNY FRANCISCO Parents told ST that while additional checks would be reassuring, this alone is insufficient and they still need to keep a close eye on their children and teach them to look out for warning signs. Mr Edmund Lim, 44, a customer engagement manager, said that when he was looking for a private tutor for his 15-year-old son, he and his wife asked other parents for their opinions of the tutor, and searched for reviews through online forums like kiasuparents. The class was conducted in the living room so that his son would not be left alone with the tutor. Ms Adriana Lim Escano, 42, who runs her own retail company Abry and is the co-founder of Mums for Life, said that she would not leave any of her children alone with a tutor even if the tutor were a woman. Her four children are aged between one and 11. "Even in primary schools, there are checks but there have still been teachers who prey on kids," she said, adding that she is cautious of anyone who interacts with her children, such as school bus drivers, sports coaches and domestic workers. Her husband, Mr Bryan Tan, 45, who is the chief executive of the Centre for Fathering and Dads for Life, said that even with a "trust mark" issued by the authorities, "we parents have to remain vigilant, be actively involved in our children's lives and establish open communications channels with them". More on this topic Related Story Why one woman did not dare to tell her mum about grandpa's sexual attacks Related Story Singaporean child sex abuse survivor writes memoir Tougher penalties under proposed changes to law Penalties for sexual offences against children will be enhanced under the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill introduced by Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Tan in Parliament on Aug 2. There will be longer jail terms for engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a minor and for causing a minor to view a sexual image. The changes come after a review of the sentencing framework, which was announced by Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam in March. The maximum sentence for the two offences involving sexual activities or images in the presence of minors will be raised from one year to two years in jail. The first offence involves sexual activity in the presence of a minor or showing a sexual image to a minor between the ages of 14 and 16, and the second involves similar offences relating to minors aged between 16 and 18. More on this topic Related Story Timeline of key changes to the law to protect victims of sexual and hurt offences How psychiatrists assess paedophiles In assessing potential paedophiles, psychiatrists probe their sexual practices and the level of distress they feel for their desires. Dr Christopher Cheok, senior consultant and acting chief of the department of forensic psychiatry at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), told The Sunday Times that a psychiatrist will ask, among other things, about their sexual practices and fantasies, the development of these fantasies, whether they were a victim of abuse, and the type and frequency of pornography viewing. “It is also important to know the level of distress experienced by the person arising from his paedophilic desires, his personal value system and his ability to control himself,” he said. “A paedophile may not be distressed by his sexual attraction to pre-pubescent children. In contrast, paedophilic disorder is a psychiatric disorder which is diagnosed when a paedophile is distressed by his sexual attraction to pre-pubescent children, or has acted out his desire on a victim.” The courts have handed out stiff sentences to offenders diagnosed as paedophiles who were assessed to have a high risk of reoffending. Most notably, recalcitrant offender Kelvin Lim Hock Hin was in 1997 jailed for 40 years for luring five boys aged between eight and 13 into having sex with him, offering them free tuition and gifts. He had been convicted in 1988 of having sex with four other boys. Recalcitrant offender Kelvin Lim Hock Hin was in 1997 jailed for 40 years for luring five boys aged between eight and 13 into having sex with him. PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE The landmark case saw the Court of Appeal rule that in future cases, chronic paedophiles who are shown to be unable or unwilling to control themselves, and who target children as victims should be sentenced to life imprisonment. In 2015, Malaysian engineer Yap Weng Wah was sentenced to 30 years’ jail and the maximum 24 strokes of the cane for sexually abusing at least 31 boys aged between 11 and 15. In all but one case, he either sodomised or had oral sex with them at his rental flat, in hotel rooms and toilets at shopping centres and swimming pools. An IMH report found that he had hebephilia – a sexual preference for children generally aged 11 to 14 – and was assessed to have a high risk of reoffending. More on this topic Related Story Guilty As Charged: Yap Weng Wah, sex predator (2015)
SINGAPORE - When the Ministry of Social and Family Development is alerted to a case of intra-familial child sexual abuse, its Child Protective Service (CPS) ensures the child is kept safe. This entails having an adult who can ensure the child is not left alone with the perpetrator, said manager of the CPS investigation team Nurul Nadiah Mohamed Noor, 29. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.
SINGAPORE - The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) will generally reject rehabilitative sentences for adult offenders who commit certain sexual and hurt offences, unless there are exceptional facts, such as if the offender has an intellectual disability. Examples of such offences include voyeurism, outrage of modesty, and voluntarily causing hurt against a vulnerable victim. Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said this in Parliament on Friday (March 5), following a review of the sentencing framework for hurt and sexual offences conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Law (MinLaw). "The need for proportionate punishment and deterrence must take precedence over rehabilitation," said Mr Shanmugam, who was speaking during a ministerial statement on the review announced last July. In response to media queries, MHA and MinLaw said that the AGC has generally objected to rehabilitative sentences for adult offenders who commit certain sexual and hurt offences. "With this review, AGC will depart even less from this position," said the ministries. "The review is also intended to reassure the public that we treat cases involving sexual and hurt offences very seriously, and take a tough stance against such offenders," the ministries added. The review came after public unhappiness over rehabilitative sentences that had been meted out to those convicted of sexual or hurt offences in recent years, with some feeling that the sentences had been too lenient. The offenders include National University of Singapore (NUS) dentistry student Yin Zi Qin, who received a community-based sentence last July for attacking his former girlfriend in May 2019. He tried to strangle her and pressed his thumb against her eye, causing it to bleed. He will not have a criminal record after completing his sentence, which included a short detention order of 12 days and 80 hours of community service. In community-based sentences, instead of being sent to prison for long periods, criminals can be ordered to seek treatment for their issues, do community service, or report to a centre daily for counselling and rehabilitation. Even as the the AGC reviews its position on such offences, due consideration must be given to exceptional circumstances, said Mr Shanmugam. More on this topic Related Story S'pore set to raise penalties for sex crimes, offender's qualifications shouldn't matter: Shanmugam Related Story Were they let off easy? 3 sex crime cases that sparked public debate, review Citing an example of a first-time adult offender with an intellectual disability who touches a woman, he said: "It may, in certain circumstances, better serve the public interest to impose a rehabilitative sentence with appropriate conditions, to reduce the likelihood of future reoffending, rather than to impose an imprisonment term." In a case where an offender is found to be suffering from a treatable psychiatric condition that contributed to the offence, for example, a mandatory treatment order (MTO) may be appropriate, he said. Offenders may be given MTO undergo treatment for their mental condition in lieu of jail time. More on this topic Related Story Molestation cases in S'pore on the rise, average of 1,190 a year between 2016 and 2020 Related Story MHA, MinLaw to publish guide on sentencing to educate public on criminal justice system
SINGAPORE - About 40 per cent of sexual assault cases reported to the police from 2017 to 2019 involved victims below the age of 16. In those three years, there were 6,988 reports of sexual assault, including rape, sexual assault by penetration, outrage of modesty, and sexual offences involving children and vulnerable victims, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said on Tuesday (Jan 5). In these cases, 2,798 victims were below 16, and 1,000 victims were between 16 and 20 years old. Another 3,685 victims were aged 21 and older, while 390 victims were employed as foreign domestic workers. The number of victims does not tally with the total number of cases, as a case could involve more than one victim, or a victim could be involved in more than one case. Of all the reports made, 1,368 cases resulted in prosecutions, with 931 convictions to date. Mr Shanmugam gave these figures in a written response to parliamentary questions filed by Ms Raeesah Khan and Ms He Ting Ru, who are both MPs for Sengkang GRC. They had asked for statistics related to sexual assault cases, including the age profile of victims, the proportion of repeat offenders and the nature of relationships among those involved. Mr Shanmugam said that the majority of cases - 2,957 out of 6,988 - were between strangers, followed by 2,243 cases between friends. Another 619 cases were between colleagues, including supervisors and subordinates, and 47 involved professionals and clients. A total of 599 cases were between relatives, including non-biological relatives, and 109 involved teachers and students. Teachers include tutors, coaches and related roles. Another 414 cases occurred between people with other types of relationship, such as neighbours. Mr Shanmugam also said that from 2005 to 2019, a total of 4,606 offenders were convicted of sexual assault offences. Of these, 1,364 offenders had previously been convicted of sexual assault offences and another 1,078 of other offences. In response to Ms Raeesah, Mr Shanmugam said that his ministry does not track the use of alcohol, drugs, or the prevalence and diagnosis of psychiatric conditions, in relation to sexual assault offenders.
SINGAPORE - An Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (ICA) officer allegedly received bribes and sexual services from two foreign women, in exchange for helping them remain in Singapore legally. Teo Hwee Peng, 47, and the women - Chinese nationals Liang Qinglan, 37, and Cheng Wenjuan, 32 - were charged in court on Tuesday (Nov 24) for corruption. Teo, a checkpoints inspector, faces 12 charges, while Liang and Cheng face nine and 18 charges respectively. Cheng is also linked to a similar matter involving another Singaporean, 42-year-old Kelvin Lim Chee Wee. He is facing 14 charges for corruptly receiving bribes and sexual services from Cheng. Court documents state that Liang and Cheng allegedly provided the sexual services and bribes to Teo, in return for the officer’s help in getting Special Passes issued to them. A Special Pass, which legalises a foreigner's stay in Singapore, is issued for specific purposes such as assistance in investigations, court attendance and for stateless persons residing here. Those holding Special Passes are not allowed to work without a valid work pass. Between 2018 and last year, Liang purportedly provided Teo sexual services, at least $2,100 in cash, a red packet containing 188.88 yuan ($39) and loans of about 7000 yuan. She also allegedly agreed to give him an Apple iPhone X. Cheng is said to have corruptly provided Teo a massage with sexual services, as well as $1,500 in cash, on separate occasions in July last year. She also allegedly offered him another $5,000, which he rejected. On July 26 last year, Cheng purportedly offered Teo an unspecified sum of cash in exchange for information on the arrest status of another individual. More on this topic Related Story ICA officer, daughter jailed over PR application bribery Related Story 4 weeks' jail for woman who bribed ICA officer to expedite her PR application In the matters involving Lim, Cheng is accused of corruptly providing him with sexual services as well as $7,000 and 1,000 yuan in cash, on various occasions between May and July 2019. She had allegedly done so in exchange for his help in getting a purported ICA officer to arrange for her to receive a Special Pass. Cheng is also said to have bribed Lim with about $2,000 and 3,000 yuan to have a purported ICA officer arrange for a Special Pass to be issued to another person. According to a statement by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), Lim had lied to her that he used to work at ICA and had friends in the immigration department who could arrange for her to be issued with a Special Pass. But he had never worked at ICA and was in fact a manager of a motor vehicle workshop at that time, said CPIB. On Tuesday, the court heard that Teo, Liang and Cheng will be contesting their respective charges, while Lim will be consulting his lawyer before making a decision. More on this topic Related Story ICA officer charged with accepting sex as bribes and breaching Official Secrets Act Related Story Courts & Crime: Read more stories All four individuals are expected to be back in court on Dec 17. For each count of corruption, offenders can be jailed for up to five years, or fined up to $100,000, or both.
SINGAPORE - The Education Ministry is following up with the National University of Singapore (NUS) and other universities to ensure the safety of students, after the dismissal of former Tembusu College fellow Dr Jeremy Fernando amid allegations of sexual misconduct. In a Facebook post on Saturday night (Oct 24), Minister of State for Education Sun Xueling said that the university leadership has been asked what more can be done to prevent such instances from happening in the future. "At the end of the day, our institutes of higher learning (IHL) have a duty of care to their students. There must be zero-tolerance in our campuses for any form of sexual misconduct, harassment or violence," she wrote. Dr Fernando was sacked from NUS on Oct 7 after internal investigations found that he "had an intimate association" with an undergraduate - a serious breach of its code of conduct for staff, NUS said last Wednesday. Two students had alleged that Dr Fernando made non-consensual advances towards them, and the university said that it had made a police report, "given the seriousness of the allegations". Ms Sun said: "The issues around this case lead us to question: How can we better guard against educators and other individuals who cross the line, and how can we collectively strengthen campus safety?" She added that the MOE will continue working closely with all IHLs to tighten processes where needed and to ensure the safety of the student community at all times. Responding to the Facebook post in a comment, NUS dean of students Leong Ching clarified that when she admitted that the university could have handled the issue better during a media conference on Friday, she referred to the "less-than-timely communication" of the university's decision. "I do not refer to our response to the complaint, which was first, to provide immediate support and care to the students involved; second to immediately suspend and then summarily dismiss the staff, all in just over a month. I believe that this was the most expeditious possible, while keeping to due process. More on this topic Related Story Firing of NUS don: Delay in reporting to police is out of concern for victims, says Tommy Koh Related Story Ex-NUS professor accused of sexual misconduct apologises, files police report "With respect, minister, this is what zero tolerance looks like," wrote Associate Professor Leong. Investigations are ongoing.