Longer jail term for medium rapist

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Singapore
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Jan 15, 2010

Longer jail term for medium

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

A MEDIUM, who raped and sexually abused a friend's daughter since she was eight, had his jail term increased from 24 years to 32 years on Friday. The 60-year-old had been sentenced last July but the prosecution appealed against what it felt was a 'manifestly inadequate sentence' imposed by the High Court. The man is not being named to protect the identity of his victim. Asking the Court of Appeal to enhance the man's sentence on Friday, the prosecution pointed out this was one of the worst cases of sexual assault. 'Rape of a child of tender age is a despicable crime and the man had committed rape and other similar sexual offences on no less than 43 separate offences,' stated Deputy Public Prosecutor Bala Reddy in the prosecution's submissions.

 

[General Veers]

Singapore
Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story
Jan 15, 2010

8 years added to rapist's term

By Khushwant Singh

EVEN before Friday, a 60-year-old medium faced the prospect of dying in prison, as he was less than a year into a 24-year sentence for rape and sexual abuse of a child. Now, more than ever, his fate appears sealed: The Court of Appeal on Friday added eight more years to his sentence, stretching it to 32 years. The prosecution had successfully argued for the sentence to be increased, as the man had perpetrated one of the worst cases of sexual assault ever. Deputy Public Prosecutor Bala Reddy noted that the man started abusing the girl when she was eight, and had, over seven years, indulged in increasingly perverted acts, including anal sex and introducing objects into her. Added to this was the fact that he was a spiritual adviser and friend of the girl's family, and was often entrusted to look after her, the prosecutor said. The 24-year term imposed by the High Court last July was thus a 'manifestly inadequate sentence'. Neither the man, who worked as a coffee-shop assistant, nor the girl can be named, to protect the victim's identity.

Read the full report in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.

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