SINGAPORE — After conversing with two girls under 16 on social media platform TikTok, a 17-year-old boy met with them on separate occasions to engage in sexual acts before "ghosting" them, or abruptly ceasing all forms of communication.  

On Thursday (Nov 16), the teenager pleaded guilty to two counts of committing sexual offences against two different girls under the age of 16. He was not represented by a defence lawyer on Thursday.

He and the victims cannot be named due to a court order to protect the girls' identities.

Two other similar charges would be taken into consideration for sentencing when he returns to court on Jan 11, 2024, after the court has assessed if he would be suitable for reformative training.

Reformative training is a rehabilitative sentencing option for offenders above the age of 14 but below the age of 21. Eligible offenders undergo a comprehensive rehabilitation programme in a closed and structured environment in a training centre.

IGNORED GIRL'S MESSAGES AFTER SEXUAL ACT

The court heard that in June this year, the teenager started to like videos that a 13-year-old girl had posted on TikTok.

He then sent her a message on the TikTok and they continued their conversations on other social media platforms such as Instagram and Telegram.

They then decided to enter into a relationship around the end of June.

Their relationship lasted just two weeks and they met on three occasions during this period. 

On July 15, he met with the 13-year-old at Ang Mo Kio MRT Station before they took the bus together to a housing block along Marsiling Lane.

After a conversation at the void deck of the block, they went up to one of the staircase landings where they became intimate.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Janessa Phua said that the boy then told the girl to engage in a sexual act. She did this for a few minutes but expressed her reluctance to continue as she felt uncomfortable.

They then stopped and continued their conversation before he left to meet his friend.

He did not maintain any further contact with the girl after July 16 and also ignored her numerous attempts to contact him through different social media platforms.

AFRAID OF LOSING HIM AS A FRIEND

About two weeks later in August, the teenager met a 15-year-old girl through mutual friends. 

They began having sexually charged conversations over TikTok and Telegram.

At the time, the girl was undergoing police investigations for engaging in sexual intercourse with one of her classmates and felt isolated from the rest of her class.

Around noon on Oct 2, she met the teenager at a staircase landing of a housing block on Serangoon North Avenue 1 with the intention to "hang out" before his GCE N-Level papers.

While they were hugging, the teenager indicated his interest to have sex with her.

The girl consented out of fear that she would lose his friendship if she refused. 

After Oct 3, the teenager abruptly stopped all communication with the girl.

The incident came to light after the girl's mother checked her mobile phone on Oct 4.

When her mother asked her about the sexual nature of the Telegram messages, the girl admitted that she had sex with the teenager.

Under the advice of a case worker, her mother decided to make a police report on Oct 23.

'INTENDED TO EXPLOIT VICTIMS'

Not objecting to the court calling for a reformative training suitability report, DPP Phua said that in addition to rehabilitation, deterrence must also be considered. 

She argued that this was not a case where parties engaged in consensual sexual activity in the ordinary courts of a genuine relationship, and the accused clearly intended to exploit both victims in a sexual manner from the very beginning.

Emphasising the seriousness of the offences, DPP Phua added that reformative training is an appropriate sentence because it would not only strike the necessary balance but duly addresses both sentencing considerations.

For performing a sexual act on a minor below 14, the teenager could be jailed for up to 20 years and fined or caned.

For having sexual intercourse with a minor below 16, he could be jailed for up to 10 years or fined, or both.