High Court Hears Case of Year-Long Sexual Abuse Allegations Against 52-Year-Old Man
A 52-year-old man is on trial in Singapore for allegedly sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s daughter over a year-long period. The offences, which occurred in their rental flat and a van parked at cemeteries, have shocked the nation and raised concerns about child safety.
The accused, who is stateless due to lost documentation, lived with the victim’s family in a two-room rental flat. The victim, aged 10 to 11 during the alleged abuse, endured repeated assaults despite confiding in her mother. The trial began on April 8, 2025, at the High Court.
The trial of a 52-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s daughter began on April 8, 2025. The prosecution detailed a series of incidents between February 2021 and January 2022 that allegedly took place in their northern Singapore rental flat and a van parked near cemeteries. The accused faces seven charges: four counts of sexual penetration, two counts of molestation, and one count of sexual exploitation of a child.
Timeline of Alleged Abuse
The abuse reportedly started in February 2021 when the victim woke up in her flat to find the accused molesting her while she slept on the living room floor. Despite her pleas for him to stop, he allegedly continued touching her private parts and attempted penetration twice. Days later, he repeated his actions and violated her again at home.
In May 2021, while parked at a Muslim cemetery in Lim Chu Kang, the accused allegedly assaulted the girl inside their rented van. He reclined his driver’s seat and sexually assaulted her while she lay at the back pretending to sleep. According to the prosecution, this was not an isolated incident at the cemeteries. On another occasion that year, he brought her to a Christian cemetery under the pretense of fetching water and forced her to perform oral sex on him inside the van. On their way back to the Muslim cemetery, he demanded similar acts again.
Victim’s Courage to Speak Out
The victim confided in her mother after her 11th birthday but was not believed. This denial allowed the accused continued access to her and led to further assaults. On January 3, 2022, he allegedly assaulted her again while they were alone in the van parked near a shelter at a Muslim cemetery.
The situation escalated in February 2022 when the victim stayed with her half-sister from her biological father’s previous marriage. During this visit, she broke down emotionally and disclosed the abuse. Her father filed a police report on February 3, leading to the accused’s arrest on February 4.
Psychiatrist Dr. Bernadine Woo testified that she evaluated the victim on August 26, 2022. Dr. Woo reported that while the girl exhibited signs of trauma—including fear of men and difficulty trusting people—she was consistent and coherent during interviews and deemed fit to testify in court.
Justice Aidan Xu questioned why the accused’s identity remained protected under a gag order since he no longer resided with the victim. Deputy Public Prosecutor Tay Jia En explained that he had lived with her for over a year but agreed to reconsider applying the gag order to him while maintaining it for protecting the victim’s identity.
The trial continues with testimony from key witnesses expected to provide further insights into this deeply troubling case.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for robust child protection measures within our communities. The allegations highlight not only individual acts of violence but also systemic failures that can leave vulnerable children unprotected. It is imperative that society takes these issues seriously and advocates for stronger safeguards against child abuse.
We must foster an environment where children feel safe to speak out about their experiences without fear of disbelief or retribution. Only through collective vigilance and action can we hope to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
Sources: CNA (2025), Must Share News (2025)
Keywords: Cemetery Abuse Allegations, Sexual Assault Case, Singapore High Court Trial, Child Protection Issues
