SINGAPORE — A 59-year-old man has faced court over the alleged sexual assault of a two-year-old girl.

The Malaysian, who is a Singapore permanent resident, was charged on Wednesday (Dec 6) with using criminal force to touch the girl's private parts by placing his hand inside her diaper.

The incident allegedly occurred on Nov 9 this year between 1pm and 3pm. The location was redacted from the charge sheet, but The Straits Times reported that it allegedly took place in a preschool.

In a response to TODAY’s queries, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) said that the agency was made aware on Dec 5 of an alleged case of outrage of modesty that took place in a preschool on Nov 9.

“We note that the non-teaching staff in question has been dismissed by the preschool and ECDA will not allow the staff to work in the preschool sector while investigations are ongoing,” it added.

ECDA has also instructed the preschool to closely monitor its children and provide close supervision and guidance to its staff members. 

“We will be working with the preschool to ensure the safety and well-being of enrolled children.”

As the case is now under the police's and its investigation, the agency said that it is unable to comment further.

However, it emphasised that before any employees, including non-teaching staff members, can be deployed to its preschools, it will check if they have any previous criminal offences involving children, or have been barred from working in the preschool sector. 

ECDA expects all preschools to report all serious incidents that affect the safety of children within 24 hours, and if it is proven that there is unreasonable delay in the reporting, the agency will take the preschool to task.

Both the man and the girl cannot be named to protect the alleged victim's identity.

During the court hearing, the prosecution made an application for the man to be remanded and to be taken out for investigations because they believe that he was involved in other similar cases. 

He will return to court on Dec 13 for another hearing.

If found guilty of using criminal force to outrage the modesty of a person below 14, he could be jailed for up to five years, fined, or caned, or with any combination of these punishments.