9 months' jail for former primary school teacher who touched seven-year-old pupil in class

Straits Times

9 hours ago

The father of three was given a discharge amounting to acquittal on two similar charges ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
9 months' jail for former primary school teacher who touched seven-year-old pupil in class
SINGAPORE – A former primary school Chinese teacher has been sentenced to nine months' jail after he admitted to using criminal force on his pupil with the intention to outrage her modesty.
The father of three was given a discharge amounting to acquittal on two similar charges. These charges were not read out in court.
On June 20, District Judge Lim Tse Haw said the man, 38, had breached a sacred trust between him and his pupil – for whom he was the Chinese language and form teacher .
Sometime around 2019, the seven-year-old pupil approached the man to find out the name of a song he had played in class earlier.
As she approached the man, who was sitting down near the front of the classroom, the man reached out and touched the pupil underneath her school skirt.
They were alone at the front of the class at this time, as the other pupils were queuing up to go for recess.
After three years, she decided to confide her experience to the school's vice- principal in April 2022 . A police report was then made.
The judge said: 'Teachers are held in high regard by society. By virtue of the trust we ( place) in them to impart knowledge and good moral values in our students, parents therefore entrust their children in the good hands of our teachers for these reasons.'
He pointed out that the pupil in this case was just seven years old. There is a gag order imposed to protect her identity.
'Although the touch was fleeting and did not intrude into her private parts, there was skin on skin contact with her inner thigh under her skirt – a sensitive part of the female body.'
The judge added: 'The psychological harm, which included suicidal thoughts and potential problems with interpersonal relationships later in life, could be prolonged.'
The Ministry of Education had previously told The Straits Times that the man had been dismissed in April 2022, and that he is no longer teaching in any school.
For each count of molesting a child below 14 years old, an offender can be jailed for up to five years, fined, caned or receive any combination of such punishments.
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