Court finds serious abuse of trust after years of secret molestation and cash “hush” payments.
A 72-year-old former pastor has been jailed for repeatedly molesting a girl with severe specific language impairment, exploiting his position in her church and her family’s trust over several years.
Long-Term Abuse Of A Vulnerable Child
The man, who cannot be named due to a gag order protecting the victim, was a pastor at the church the girl attended. She has severe specific language impairment, a developmental disorder that affects understanding and use of spoken and written language despite normal hearing and intellect. Deputy Principal District Judge Ong Chin Rhu said the case involved a “serious abuse of trust” and noted that the offences included skin-to-skin contact with the child, who had been placed under his spiritual care. A woman identifying herself as his friend later told reporters he is no longer a pastor at the church.
Grooming Through Church And “Help” In His Office
The girl’s mother frequently sought the pastor’s advice on family and spiritual matters, and during school holidays the victim began accompanying her mother to church daily. The pastor later asked the girl to help with paperwork and administrative tasks in his office. Between April 16, 2015, and April 15, 2016, when she was 12, he first molested her by touching her chest over her clothes. On another day in his office, he slipped his hand under her top and touched her bare skin, and weeks later he touched her private parts over her clothing.
Cash Payments Seen As Buying Silence
Deputy Public Prosecutor Adelle Tai told the court that after the first incident the pastor began giving the victim $20 weekly, sometimes $40. Over time, up to 2019, he continued to target her, including touching her chest and private parts, and by then she had received about $2,000. Although he did not explicitly say the money was for her silence, the victim understood the payments as consideration for keeping the offences secret. Judge Ong considered this pattern part of the grooming and coercive context in which the abuse occurred.
Delayed Disclosure And Psychological Harm
The victim stopped attending church regularly in early 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions but initially told no one, as the pastor had told her to keep the abuse a secret. In early 2022, while praying, she experienced sudden flashbacks of the molestation and, unable to tolerate the distress, confided in her sister and mother on Sept 13 that year. She reported the matter to police two days later and sought medical help. A hospital report later diagnosed her with post-traumatic stress disorder, tied to two to three years of increased anxiety, intrusive thoughts about the abuse, nightmares and avoidant behaviours. The man was arrested on Dec 8, 2025.
Conviction, Sentence And Gag Order
The former pastor pleaded guilty in April 2026 to one charge of molestation, with two additional charges taken into consideration at sentencing. On May 6, Judge Ong sentenced him to three years’ jail, stressing the aggravating factors of his pastoral role, the victim’s vulnerability and the prolonged nature of the offending. Details identifying him, the church and the victim are shielded by a gag order to protect her privacy. Police investigations into the historical abuse are complete, and no further charges are pending at this point.
The jailing of the former pastor highlights the profound damage caused when adults in positions of spiritual authority exploit vulnerable children, especially those with communication difficulties. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, the case underscores the need for robust safeguarding systems in religious and community settings, clear reporting channels, and trauma-informed support so survivors feel able to speak up and are protected when they do.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , Asia One (2026)
Keywords: Former Pastor Jailed, Molestation Of Minor, Ong Chin Rhu Sentencing, Adelle Tai Prosecution, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Church Abuse Case
