SINGAPORE — A 40-year-old former secondary school teacher began standing trial on Thursday (Feb 21) for allegedly having sex with one of his students on 10 separate occasions in his flat.

They cannot be named due to a court gag order to protect her identity.

The man, who taught in the north-east region of Singapore, faces 20 charges of sexual penetration of a person under 16 years old. The prosecution, led by Deputy Public Prosecutors James Chew and Amanda Han, is proceeding on all charges for the trial.

Each charge carries a maximum punishment of 10 years’ jail and a fine.

The teacher is accused of committing the offences over a span of one-and-a-half months, from Aug 10, 2015 to Sept 24, 2015. He was 37 years old then. Court documents did not reveal the student’s age at the time.

Reporters were not allowed in the courtroom on Thursday as the alleged victim gave testimony behind closed doors.

The trial continues on Friday. The prosecution will also call an investigation officer to the stand.

The Ministry of Education told TODAY that the accused has not been teaching since January 2017.