A 24-year-old Singaporean full-time national serviceman was sentenced on Wednesday, August 5, to 12 years and nine months in jail and 12 strokes of the cane.
The man pleaded guilty to aggravated statutory rape and being absent without leave (AWOL). At the time of the rape, the offender was 22 years old. The victim was a 13-year-old deaf and mute girl.
The offender had been absent without leave from his duty at the Civil Defence Academy in Singapore since October 23, 2023. In a letter in mitigation, the offender stated he went AWOL due to financial issues and worked as a cleaner.
Details of the assault
The offender knew the victim through his attendance at secondary school with the girl's older brother. On November 2, 2024, the victim's mother arranged for the girl to stay overnight at the offender's two-room flat.
On the morning of November 3, 2024, the offender's wife, who was four to five months pregnant, left the flat to run errands, leaving the victim alone with her husband. During the assault, the victim secretly texted the offender's wife for help.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Sarah Siaw stated that the victim was under the age of 14, did not consent, and that the offender had not used a condom. Siaw sought a jail term of between 12 years and four months to 13 years, alongside 12 strokes of the cane.
Defence lawyer Harjeet Kaur, from the law firm Withers KhattarWong, sought a jail term of 10 to 10.5 years and eight strokes of the cane. Kaur argued there was no evidence that her client had exploited the victim's disability.
Justice Andre Maniam stated that the defence's submission downplays the significance of the victim's disability and noted that the victim addressed the offender as 'uncle'.
Sentencing and mitigation
The offender apologized to the victim, his wife, and his child, who was born while he was in remand.
Number of strokes of the cane ordered by the court.
In Singapore, the possible sentence for aggravated statutory rape is between eight and 20 years in jail and at least 12 strokes of the cane. For being AWOL, the possible sentence is up to two years in jail.
