Convicted for sexual grooming

[lauhunku]

Aug 13, 2010
Convicted for sexual grooming

<!-- by line --> By Khushwant Singh

A STOREKEEPER, 25, who repeatedly plied a 13-year-old student with requests for sex, has become the first person to be convicted for sexual grooming. The law, which took effect in February 2008 makes it an offence for any person above the age of 21 if he 'intentionally meets or travels to meet a minor with the intention of committing a sexual offence with the minor'.

An offender can be jailed for up to three years and/or fined up to $10,000. Loh Kuat Fung pleaded guilty on Friday to sexual grooming and to allowing another 15-year-old girl to consume alcohol in a hotel room he had rented in August or September 2008. For the second offence, the Malaysian could be fined up to $2,000 or jailed up to a year. He will be sentenced next Friday.

Highlighting that this was the first case to be heard in a court here for sexual grooming, Deputy Public Prosecutor S. Sellakumaran called Loh a 'sexual predator who was relentless in his pursuit of his victims'. Asking for a lenient sentence, Loh's lawyer said that his client was a foreigner here and was lonely.

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[Cao Pi]

Jailed for sexual grooming


Aug 20, 2010
Jailed for sexual grooming

By Khushwant Singh <!-- by line -->

<!-- end by line --> <!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> A STOREKEEPER, 25, who repeatedly propositioned two secondary school students for sex, has become the first person to be jailed for sexual grooming. Loh Kuat Fung was jailed a year on Friday on each charge but the sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

However, the Malaysian was jailed an additional six months for allowing one of the girls, then aged 15, to consume alcohol in a hotel room he had rented after they got to know each other in 2008. The other girl was only 13 when Loh tried to hit on her. Calling the offences 'very serious' as his victims were 'very vulnerable', District Judge Sarjit Singh ordered the 18-month jail term to start immediately.

For sexual grooming, Loh could be jailed for up to three years and/or fined up to $10,000. The law, which took effect in February 2008, makes it an offence for a person above the age of 21 to 'intentionally meet or travel to meet a minor with the intention of committing a sexual offence with the minor'.

A district court heard that the storekeeper first got to know the older girl through social networking website Friendster in 2008. Harassed by persistent requests for sex, the teenager introduced a 13-year-old friend to Loh so that he would leave her alone in September that year.

 

[Cao Pi]

Loh Kuat Fung, 27, kept pestering a 15-year-old girl he met online, as well as her 13-year-old friend, for sex. -- PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
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