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Man who preyed on school girls pleads guilty
Posted: 24 February 2012 1523 hrs
SINGAPORE: A 55-year-old man has pleaded guilty to four charges of committing sexual offences that include outraging the modesty of primary school girls.
Ng Ban Keong would carry a thermometer, surgical gloves or what seemed like a stethoscope to make it look like he was a real doctor.
He then used this modus operandi to commit sexual offences against pre-pubescent girls over a period of six years from 2004.
Ng, who was accompanied by six family members, pleaded guilty on Friday to four charges, with six charges to be taken into consideration during sentencing. Two other charges have been withdrawn.
The charges he faces include outraging the modesty of a 10 year old and two 11 year olds between September 2004 and May 2010 at a staircase landing in Clementi and at the Golden Landmark Shopping Centre.
Ng had also apparently forced a nine year old to perform oral sex on him on 26 October 2009 at Sims Drive. For this offence, he could be jailed up to 20 years and caned.
For outraging the modesty of two of the girls, Ng can be jailed for up to two years and fined on each charge.
For the third charge of molest, he faces an imprisonment of up to five years and a fine.
In her submissions, deputy public prosecutor Gail Wong told the court that while the accused has no previous convictions, he preyed specifically on girls aged nine to 12, primarily because they were vulnerable.
DPP Wong stressed that the court must protect young children from sexual exploitation. She added that Ng was old enough to be the girls' father and that was an aggravating factor.
According to a medical report, Ng's repetitive acts against young girls showed that he has a specific sexual interest in them and that he liked to exploit them.
As Ng is above the age of 50, he is spared the cane. But DPP Wong noted that the court can order a jail term of up to a year in lieu of that. So she urged the court to put Ng away in jail for 12 years.
Ng, who is represented by defence lawyer Subhas Anandan, will be sentenced at a later date.
Mr Subhas is expected to submit his mitigation when the court next meets.
- CNA/al
