In Singapore, former teacher sentenced to 16 years for sexual crimes against student
In Singapore, a former 45-year-old physical education teacher was sentenced to 16 years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane for sexual crimes against a minor student. The man, whose name was not disclosed by court order, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual penetration involving a minor. This was reported by Channel NewsAsia.
The court also took another 12 charges into consideration when sentencing him. The crimes took place in 2022 and 2023, when the man worked at a secondary school and had 18 years of teaching experience. The victim was between 14 and 15 years old at the time and attended his physical education classes.
Meetings in hotels and at school
According to the court, the teacher began exchanging messages with the student on Instagram, later confessed romantic feelings to her and persuaded her that a relationship between a teacher and a student was not a problem. He suggested meeting at a hotel and asked the girl to enter the room after him so that they would not be seen together.
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Over several months, the man met the student six times in hotel rooms, and sexual acts occurred during five of those meetings. He also committed sexual acts in a room during a school camp and kissed the girl in a physical education facility.
The court's assessment
Judge Kwek Mean Luck stated that the convicted man had abused his position as a teacher and the trust placed in him by the student and her parents. The court took into account the harm caused to the victim: she had suicidal thoughts and nightmares, lost her appetite, harmed herself and was afraid of men. After transferring to another school, she also had to face rumors about herself and the teacher.
The student ended the relationship in January 2023 because, according to her, the man was becoming increasingly jealous and controlling. Afterward, he tried to obtain information about her through an older student at the school and threatened to harm himself. The girl's parents contacted the police in February 2023. The Ministry of Education had previously said that the man was suspended from work in February 2023 and no longer teaches at schools.
