A 33-year-old former secondary school teacher received a nine-month prison sentence for attempting sexual activities with three teenage girls in 2021.
The Singaporean man targeted students aged 15 to 17 years old. Two victims were former students. One remained enrolled at his school during the incidents. A gag order protects his identity to safeguard the victims.
Prosecutors labeled him a “serial predator” who systematically targeted vulnerable students.
Instagram Messages Led to Hotel Room Encounter
The teacher started working at the school in 2017. He advised student councillors and accepted follow requests from students on his personal Instagram account.
His first victim was 16 years old when he contacted her in April 2021. He had taught her in Secondary One before she left the school. He sent sexually suggestive messages through Instagram’s “vanish mode” feature, which makes messages disappear.
He asked her to “fantasise” about him. He repeatedly suggested they become “friends with benefits,” implying regular meetings for sexual acts.
The girl rejected his advances and told him to stop. She reported his behavior to a former teacher.
In September 2021, he targeted his second victim, aged 17. He had taught her in Secondary Four before she left the school earlier that year. Through vanish mode, he asked her to share her “sexual kink” with him. He told her he was willing to have sex with her and suggested renting a room together for sexual activities.
This victim also refused his advances and cut off contact. She later reported his conduct to a former teacher.
Student Councillor Brought to Tanjong Pagar Hotel
The third victim was a 15-year-old student councillor still studying at his school. On October 17, 2021, he invited her to meet him and booked a hotel room in Tanjong Pagar.
At the hotel, he attempted to kiss her while they sat on a bed. She pushed him away and turned her face aside. He asked her to perform a sexual act on him and placed her hand on his private parts. She resisted and pulled her hand away.
The man stopped after realizing his actions made the victim uncomfortable. He drove her home afterward.
He continued sending inappropriate messages, prompting the girl to delete her Instagram account. He left the school at the end of 2021. In early 2022, he contacted her via Telegram to apologize.
He revealed that reports had been filed against him regarding inappropriate messages sent to other students. The girl then informed the school about her experience.
Youngest Victim Suffers Lasting Effects
Deputy Public Prosecutor Bryan Wong told the court on August 11 that the third victim has suffered severe emotional consequences. She struggles with stress and frequently cries in school. She requires 30 days of medical leave per semester and sleeping pills to cope.
The incident left her unable to form romantic relationships. This has severely impacted her ability to study and will have lasting effects on her prospects.
The former teacher pleaded guilty to four charges under the Children and Young Persons Act. The charges included attempting to procure the commission of an indecent act by young persons aged 16 and 17.
His sentence begins on September 1. Bail was set at $20,000. The Ministry of Education confirmed he has not worked as a teacher since March 2022.
