SINGAPORE — A 44-year-old man who sexually abused four of his daughters and stepdaughters over 15 years has been sentenced to 16½ years in prison and 22 strokes of the cane, following a series of offences committed between 2008 and 2023.
The man was sentenced by the High Court on Oct. 8 after pleading guilty to three charges: one count of aggravated statutory rape and two counts of aggravated outrage of modesty. Seven additional charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.
He cannot be named because of a court order protecting the identities of his victims. The case involved two biological daughters and two stepdaughters, with the youngest victim subjected to repeated sexual abuse during childhood.
Abuse continued across multiple years
Deputy Public Prosecutor Sean Teh told the court that the man had eight children across three marriages.
The earliest known offence occurred in 2008, when he molested a stepdaughter who was then 12 or 13 years old. The girl did not report the incident at the time because her mother did not believe her, leaving her afraid that the police would also dismiss her account.
In 2020, the man molested his biological daughter from his first marriage, who was then 17. The victim did not immediately report the incident because members of her family did not want her to do so, and she feared being disowned or forced out of the home.
She eventually disclosed the abuse to a hospital medical social worker. A child protection officer from the Ministry of Social and Family Development subsequently lodged a police report in March 2024.
Another biological daughter, who was 13 at the time, was molested in November 2021 while staying overnight at her father’s flat. She initially kept the incident to herself because she was frightened, but later made a police report.
Youngest victim’s video led to police report
The man’s most serious offences involved a stepdaughter from his third marriage, whom he repeatedly sexually assaulted between 2020 and 2023.
In 2023, when the girl was eight or nine, he raped her. The abuse continued, and the girl later witnessed another sexually inappropriate act by the man in November 2024.
Feeling that his behaviour was wrong, she recorded a short video and sent it to a close friend through TikTok. Her friend encouraged her to contact the police, but the girl initially refused because she was worried about what might happen to her family.
The friend then informed a teacher, prompting the authorities to intervene. A child protection officer lodged a police report on Nov. 15, 2024, and the man was arrested that same day.
Court highlights breach of trust within the family
In seeking the sentence, prosecutors described the case as involving grave sexual exploitation of four children over an extended period.
Justice Andre Maniam said sexual offences committed within families were particularly troubling because they involved an abuse of trust and could cause lasting psychological harm while damaging family relationships.
He also noted that offences in such circumstances might not be reported until much later, or might never be reported at all.
The court heard that the man had previous convictions dating from 1998 to 2009, including offences involving vehicle theft and an obscene act in a public place.
Penalties reflect seriousness of the offences
For aggravated statutory rape, the law provides for a prison term of between eight and 20 years, alongside at least 12 strokes of the cane. Aggravated outrage of modesty carries penalties that can include imprisonment, a fine, caning or a combination of punishments, depending on the circumstances and applicable provisions.
The sentence brings the criminal proceedings over the offences considered at this hearing to a significant stage, after years of abuse and delayed disclosures.
The case also illustrates the barriers children may face when trying to report sexual abuse by a family member, particularly when they fear they will not be believed or worry that speaking up could destabilise their home lives.
The court’s remarks underline the importance of taking disclosures seriously and ensuring that children can seek help safely, without being pressured to remain silent to protect family relationships.
