Man faces jail, caning, for sexually assaulting multiple girls, one just 11

A 25-year-old man who sexually assaulted underage girls - one of them as young as 11 - after meeting them online has pleaded guilty to the offences.

Sayyid Mohamed (transliterated), a part-time packer at the time, admitted on Aug 27 to one count of sexually assaulting a minor and two counts of statutory rape. The case has been adjourned for sentencing.

Accused contacts 12-year-old girl

According to Shin Min Daily News, the accused met a 12-year-old girl on the dating platform Omegle on July 16, 2021.

He lied about his age, claiming to be 14. After exchanging messages, he allegedly told her he had feelings for her. The girl, who also liked him, agreed to stay in contact.

Their conversations quickly turned explicit, with the man asking the girl about her breast size and whether she would perform oral sex on him.

On the morning of July 27, the man allegedly asked to meet the girl, telling her he wanted to "French kiss" her. Unaware of what he meant, the girl met him at a bus stop near her school at 7.30am.

The man then reportedly took her to a nearby parking lot, where he forced her to engage in a tongue kiss.

Afterward, he asked to meet her again, but the girl, now uncomfortable with his actions, refused.

Accused sexually assaults girl in public toilet

The following day, the man tracked the girl down to a restaurant in Yishun and confronted her. The girl had reached out to a friend for help, but the accused showed up before her friend could arrive.

At 3 pm that afternoon, he allegedly took the girl to a disabled restroom in Yishun Park. He forcibly kissed her, removed her shirt and bra, touched her chest, and then tried to get her to perform oral sex on him.

When the man saw the girl crying, he only handed her a tissue before forcing her to masturbate and perform oral sex.

The man then tried to have sexual intercourse with the girl, but she told him she had her period, and he finally let her go.

A classmate of the girl witnessed her and the man entering the restroom and informed a teacher, which led to the man's crimes being exposed.

After the girl's mother filed a police report, the man was arrested on Aug 5, 2021. The subsequent investigation revealed three more victims.

Other victims include two young girls

Among his victims was an 11-year-old girl, who was forced to have sex with him on two occasions. Shin Min said the experience left her traumatised.

The man had messaged the girl on Instagram in 2020. The two then kept in contact through WhatsApp.

Claiming to be 16 or 17, he asked her to be in a relationship with him.

After the girl agreed to be his girlfriend, he asked her to meet at the stairwell and forcibly kissed her.

A week later, the man took the girl to a disabled restroom in Yishun Park, where he forced her to have sex with him.

A few weeks after that, he asked the girl to meet again. Believing the situation would not repeat itself, the girl agreed, but she was sexually assaulted once more.

According to a psychiatric report for the victim, she suffered nightmares and flashbacks of the assault.

The man also met a 14-year-old girl on Omegle in June 2021. He lied that he was 17, and the two had sex on four occasions.

When the girl saw his identity card and found out he was 21, she felt uncomfortable and feared she might be pregnant. She then cut off all contact with him.

Prosecution requests 14 to 16 years in prison

The prosecution is seeking a jail sentence of 14 to 16 years and 24 strokes of the cane.

Prosecutors argued that the victims were young, the man did not use a condom, and the crimes were premeditated.

The prosecution stated that the man's actions, including forcing two girls into sexual acts, using the internet to commit crimes, and lying about his age to the victims, were all aggravating factors that called for a deterrent sentence.

In his plea for leniency, the man's lawyer stated that he has been in remand since his arrest and has reflected on his actions during those four years, receiving support from his family.

His lawyer requested a sentence of 12 years and 4 months to 12 years and 9 months in prison, along with caning.

The accused also read a handwritten letter of apology in court, expressing his guilt for his crimes.

He apologised to the victims and their families and promised to take full responsibility, stating that he would contribute to society upon his release from prison.