Private tutor jailed for molesting 11-year-old student

SINGAPORE — A 65-year-old private tutor was sentenced to 13½ months’ jail on Tuesday (April 4) for molesting his 11-year-old student.

Yong Koon Seong not only betrayed the trust the girl’s parents had in allowing him to tutor her at her home unsupervised, his offending act lasted for “more than a fleeting moment”, said District Judge Eddy Tham, during sentencing.

Yong, who is married and has a daughter, also did not show any remorse immediately, and instead tried to cover his tracks by getting the girl to spin a story for him, the judge added.

Yong started tutoring the girl, who cannot be named because of a gag order, in December 2012. The twice-weekly Mathematics lessons are usually held in the girl’s study room.

About midway through their lesson on June 24, 2013, when the girl became restless, Yong patted her on her back and got aroused, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Stella Tan.

He reached out and touched her inappropriately and the girl was unable to move his hand away.

Yet Yong stood up, went behind the girl, and continued to fondle her for about two to three minutes while the girl sat quietly, not reacting. He only stopped when he noticed the girl’s grandmother, who had been sitting in the living room, standing at the door.

Yong brushed off the grandmother’s confrontation, and before leaving, told the girl to lie that he was standing behind her to check on her work because he had a backache and could not sit for too long.

The girl confided in her grandmother after Yong left, who in turn, informed her parents. They made Yong return to the house that night to explain himself.

Yong admitted that he had molested the victim on two separate occasions during their lessons before crying and pleading for a second chance. The police were called in and Yong was arrested that day.

DPP Tan said that since the incident, the victim has been fearful of men and would not sit beside or stand near them in public places. She would also wear a jacket whenever she heads out and zip up even in hot weather.

A Newton hearing, which is held to resolve disputed points for sentencing, was held in October last year as there were conflicting views over Yong’s psychiatric condition during the time of offence.

Yong’s expert witness said he suffered from a persistent depressive disorder at the time of offence, contrary to what the prosecution’s expert witness found.

The judge ruled in favour of the prosecution’s evidence, noting that while Yong might have been under some stress, he did not suffer from depression.

He sentenced Yong to 12 months’ jail and three strokes of caning. But as offenders above age 50 cannot be caned, Yong received an extra six weeks’ jail in lieu.