3 months' jail for man who molested 12-year-old girl at Jalan Besar Swimming Complex
Indian national Pramender, 25, who goes by one name, pleaded guilty to molesting the girl and attempting to obtain an indecent act from her. The girl, now 13, cannot be named due to a gag order to protect her identity.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ashley Chin said Pramender's offences took place on March 31 at Jalan Besar Swimming Complex, where the girl was swimming with her cousins.
After her swim at around 6pm, she noticed Pramender staring at her. She walked to the female toilet and saw him following her.
He caught up with her and asked her to follow him on Instagram. She declined, but he took her phone, which was unlocked, and used it to key in his details on the social media platform.
Pramender gave her a side hug, causing the towel she had wrapped around her body to fall off her shoulder, resulting in direct contact between them.
Despite the girl's shock, Pramender asked her to go into the female toilet with him. He then tried to pull her to the toilet, but she resisted.
He went into the toilet alone and called out to her, urging her to join him there. She refused, and replied that she needed to return to her family and asked her female cousin to accompany her to the toilet.
After both girls entered the toilet, Pramender loitered outside. The cousin asked him to leave and stood at the toilet's entrance to stop him from entering.
DPP Chin said Pramender sent the girl 13 messages and two audio call requests on Instagram, telling her he liked her and that he was waiting for her.
Pramender sent the girl 13 messages and two audio call requests on Instagram, telling her he liked her and that he was waiting for her. PHOTO: COURT DOCUMENTS
Frightened by the messages, the girl and her cousin informed the lifeguard on duty and a police report was made.
Seeking two to three months' jail, DPP Chin said there was some degree of sexual exploitation and harm done to the victim, who was young and vulnerable.
The prosecutor added: "There were clear, intentional and repeated attempts to procure some type of sexual gratification from the victim. He even attempted to pull her into the toilet."
In mitigation, Pramender, who was unrepresented, apologised for his actions. He told District Judge Chay Yuen Fatt: "I just ask for forgiveness, Your Honour. I have already apologised to the girl's family. My mother is a cancer patient, and I'd like to return to India as soon as possible."
In sentencing, Judge Chay referred to Pramender's acts as persistent and predatory advances and highlighted the young age of the victim, who was shocked and frightened by what he had done.
Those convicted of molesting a child below 14 years old can be jailed for up to five years, fined, caned, or receive any combination of such punishments.
Outrage of modesty was one of the top crimes of concern in 2024, with shop theft and voyeurism.
The number of outrage of modesty cases fell by 6.6 per cent from 1,528 in 2023 to 1,427 in 2024.
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