Man gets 12 years’ jail for sex with 12-year-old schoolgirl

SINGAPORE — Days after befriending a 12-year-old schoolgirl through a phone messaging app, Lee Seow Peng, who is more than two decades older than her, drove her to a public car park at Chinese Garden and had sexual intercourse with her in the back seat of his vehicle.

Seeing that the girl was hesitant, Lee mocked her, asking why she was uncomfortable and apprehensive when they had risque conversations over the messaging app.

Five days later, Lee, who is married, tried to arrange for another meet-up with the girl but the plan was foiled when the victim’s mother saw the messages on the girl’s phone.

On Wednesday (April 13), the 40-year-old former crane operator was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and nine strokes of the cane for statutory rape with consent, the sexual grooming of a minor under 16, and the procurement of an indecent act from a child. Lee intends to appeal the sentence, and is currently out on S$100,000 bail.

After defending himself without a lawyer during his trial, Lee hired Mr Kertar Singh, who said in mitigation that the incident had caused his client and his family “great distress”.

“They have been traumatised and suffered much anguish and embarrassment. This has left an indelible scar on the lives of (Lee) and his loved ones,” said the defence counsel.

Lee, who left school at 12, was the sole provider for his family, but lost his job as a crane operator after being arrested, Mr Singh added.

The lawyer’s arguments cut no ice with Judicial Commissioner Hoo Sheau Peng, who said they lacked real mitigation value. On the contrary, there were aggravating factors in the case, as highlighted by the prosecution, the judge said.

Lee and his victim had an age gap of 24 years, and he had “every intention to exploit her naivety”, prosecutors argued. Lee had also shown premeditation and planning, using the Internet and technology to prey on his victim.

Agreeing, Judicial Commissioner  Hoo said a stiffer sentence was warranted to reflect culpability and deter such offences.

Lee first met the victim on May 26, 2012 through the messaging app. The following day, he asked her to be his girlfriend.

Two days later, Lee suggested that they meet up. That same evening, he picked her up near her school, drove her to a public car park at the Chinese Garden, and had sexual intercourse with her in the backseat of his multipurpose vehicle. 

After that evening, they continued to communicate via phone messages. On June 3, Lee tried to arrange for another meet-up with the victim — this time at a hotel and with the use of a sex toy. The matter came to light after the victim’s mother discovered the messages from Lee in her daughter’s phone. The victim told her what happened, and a police report was lodged.

During the trial, Lee had denied having sexual intercourse with the girl, saying he only drove to meet her for a 10-minute chat over coffee. Lee had also argued that the girl had initiated sexual topics in their conversations.

In convicting Lee in January, Judicial Commissioner Hoo said she found Lee’s version of events “simply unbelievable”. She also rejected his defence that he was mistaken about her age as she noted that the victim had not disguised her age and was also dressed in her school’s physical education attire when they met.