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Ex-teacher jailed 4.5 years for sex with student

SINGAPORE — A former teacher who engaged in sexual activities with his then 13-year-old student, and even moved into her house as a tenant, was today (Jan 13) sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ jail.

The Singapore State Courts. Photo: CNA

The Singapore State Courts. Photo: CNA

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SINGAPORE — A former teacher who engaged in sexual activities with his then 13-year-old student, and even moved into her house as a tenant, was today (Jan 13) sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ jail.

The 42-year-old man — who entered into a five-year affair with the victim in 2003 after getting acquainted with her as her English and History teacher — was convicted last month of two counts of carnal connection with a girl below 16, two counts of insulting the modesty of a woman, and two counts of committing an obscene act with a young person.

Another 36 charges were taken into consideration in his sentencing.

Both parties cannot be named because of a court-imposed gag order. Asked if the teacher is still employed by the Ministry of Education, a spokesperson said the teacher was “promptly suspended from duties after the case was reported”.

“We do not tolerate educators who misconduct themselves. Educators are expected to uphold the highest professional standards,” she added.

District Judge Siva Shanmugam said there was a “high degree of exploitation” involved in this case, where the man breached the trust of the girl, her mother and the school he taught at.

The 16-year age gap between the man and his victim, and his role in initiating the sexual activities with the minor, were also aggravating factors, said the judge.

The prosecution had sought a deterrent sentence of five to seven years’ jail.

Court documents showed that the man had privately tutored the girl for additional subjects.

In 2004, the accused told the teenager that he was undergoing divorce proceedings and his wife had booted him out of their marital home. He started renting a room in her house for S$150 to S$200 a month.

Over the next few years, the man and the girl had numerous sexual encounters at home and in rented cars and hotel rooms. The teenager tried to end their relationship twice in 2006 and 2007, but he consented to the split only in 2008.

Even after they ended their relationship, the man continued to live with the girl and her mother, and even took videos of the two while they were showering in the bathroom.

In 2013, the girl discovered video footage of their trysts, as well as the videos of her mother and her in the shower, among his belongings. The cops were called, and he was arrested on Aug 23, 2013.

The man could have been jailed five years and fined S$10,000 for each carnal connection charge.

He could have been jailed two years and fined S$5,000 for committing an obscene act with a young person, and jailed one year and fined for insulting the modesty of a woman.

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