Married workplace safety manager used impersonation to solicit sexual acts from underage girl
A calculated pattern of online deception, impersonation, and exploitation has landed a Singaporean man facing severe criminal penalties, highlighting growing concerns over child safety on digital platforms.
Use of Fake Online Identities
Chew Koh Leong, 45, a workplace safety and hygiene manager, pleaded guilty on Dec 22 to two charges of obtaining sexual services from a minor and one charge of attempting to procure an indecent act by a child under 16. He was married at the time of the offences.
Creation of Fake Accounts
The court heard that Chew created a fake Facebook account between 2018 and 2019 using a teenage girl’s name and photographs without her consent. He later created a fake Carousell account in 2022 using the same identity, believing the platform would help him conceal his activities.
Initial Contact With the Victim
In March 2022, Chew contacted the victim through Carousell after she listed a dress for sale at S$18. Posing as a female buyer, he claimed his “brother” would collect the item and obtained the victim’s mobile number to arrange the transaction.
Knowledge of the Victim’s Age
After communicating with the victim as the supposed brother, Chew learned that she was a Secondary 2 student who had not yet turned 14. Investigations confirmed that Chew knew the girl was 13 years old at the time. Despite this, he offered her money in exchange for sexual services.
Meetings and Offences
In October 2022, Chew met the victim at a shopping mall in northern Singapore and paid her S$150 to hug and touch her over her clothes inside his car at a multi-storey car park. In May 2023, he repeated the offence at a stairwell in the same car park, again paying her S$150. An earlier offer of S$400 in August 2022 was rejected.
Police Investigation
Police received information on Nov 15, 2023, regarding Chew’s involvement in commercial sex with a minor. He was arrested the following month. Four additional charges will be taken into consideration during sentencing.
Sentencing and Penalties
Chew is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4, 2026. Under Singapore law, those convicted of obtaining sexual services from a minor may be jailed for up to seven years, fined, or both. Attempting to procure an indecent act by a child under 16 carries penalties of up to seven years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both.
The case highlights Singapore’s firm legal stance against sexual offences involving minors and underscores the ongoing risks posed by online impersonation. It also reinforces the need for continued vigilance by authorities, digital platforms, and the public to prevent the exploitation of children through online channels.
Sources: Straits Times (2025) , Channel News Asia (2025)
Keywords: Online Impersonation, Sexual Services Minor, Singapore Crime, Child Exploitation, Digital Safety
