SINGAPORE – He was 13 years old in 2007 when he began sexually assaulting his sister, who was then seven years old. The sexual abuse continued over the next 10 years – at home and once while the siblings were in the back seat of the family car.
On Dec 1, the offender, who is now 31 years old, was sentenced to 10 years’ jail and 24 strokes of the cane after he pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault by penetration and a charge of incest.
Four other charges, one each for attempted rape, sexual assault by penetration, attempted sexual assault by penetration and outrage of modesty, were taken into consideration during sentencing.
Apart from the incest offence, which took place when she was 17 years old, the victim did not have the capacity to consent to all the other sexual acts as she was underage at the time.
In sentencing, High Court Judge Mavis Chionh said this was a tragic case in many ways, and that the man’s actions carried repercussions not just for himself and his sister, but also for their family.
Justice Chionh said he had abused the trust that was reposed in him as the victim’s elder brother, noting that he was six years older and that the siblings had a close relationship.
She said the defence’s contention that the victim occasionally initiated some acts did not mitigate the harm caused.
The judge said the victim was vulnerable in the light of the sexual violations she had experienced since childhood, which completely altered her view of intimacy.
