Man sentenced to prison for raping step-granddaughter for over a decade, Latest news from Singapore

A man sexually abused his step-granddaughter for nearly ten years, beginning when she was three years old, and frequently followed these acts with questions about whether she loved him.

When she was eleven, he raped her while she was getting ready for school.

On July 22, the man, now 51 years old, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He cannot be caned because he is over 50 years old.

In delivering the verdict, Supreme Court Judge Dedar Singh Gill described the man’s habit of asking his victim if she loved him as “evil”.

“This was a cynical manipulation of a granddaughter’s love for her grandfather,” the judge said.

Judge Gill noted that the man had also raped the girl before taking her to school, adding: “This is not how any girl should start her school day.”

The man had pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated rape, one count of aggravated sexual assault by penetration and two counts of aggravated violation of modesty.

Nine other charges were examined, including five counts of aggravated sexual assault of the girl and one count of sexual abuse of a second victim – the man’s step-niece, who was between four and six years old at the time.

His name cannot be mentioned due to a news blackout to protect the identity of the now 14-year-old victim.

The man and his wife – the girl’s biological grandmother – had been the victim’s main caregivers since her birth. She called them “Baba” and “Mama”.

The girl’s biological parents were barely present in her life and she had only sporadic contact with them. However, no further details were disclosed in court.

She lived with her grandmother, her husband and her aunt. The grandmother was granted guardianship of the girl in 2014.

The girl’s step-grandfather began abusing her in 2012, when she was just three years old.

When he was alone at home with the girl, he pulled her towards him and asked her if she loved him.

After she readily agreed, he took her hand and forced her to touch him.

After this incident, when she was between four and six years old, he began to force her to perform oral sex on him.

The prosecution told the court that the girl did not understand the nature of the crimes at the time.

Once in 2014, she giggled at the man after he insulted her in the shared hallway outside their apartment.

Over time, the attacks became more intrusive and frequent.

He abused her several times a month, either in the morning before taking her to school or in the evening. Each time he asked the victim if she loved him.

One morning in October 2021, as the victim was putting on her school uniform, he pulled her to the sofa in the living room and asked her if she loved him.

After she said yes, he raped her.

The girl suffered in silence and did not tell anyone about the abuse for fear that the family would fall apart.

On September 28, 2022, she began sobbing at her friend’s desk. The friend alerted a teacher.

The victim then burst into tears and revealed to the teacher that she had been abused.

The matter was referred to the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the girl was taken to file a police report.

On July 22, Deputy Public Prosecutor Grace Chua called for a prison sentence of 20 to 22 years for the 51-year-old man.

In written statements, she said: “Nothing can restore (the victim’s) innocence that the defendant ruthlessly snatched from her during nearly ten years of sexual abuse.”

The prosecutor said the girl was so conditioned that she knew that if the defendant asked her if she loved him, she would be sexually assaulted.

Defense attorney Wayne Ong demanded 17.5 years in prison on the grounds that his client had pleaded guilty early on.