16-1-2024 (SINGAPORE) A mother in Singapore has pleaded guilty to charges of omitting information about criminal offenses and knowingly permitting the ill-treatment of a child. The accused, a 45-year-old woman whose identity has been protected, failed to report the re
peated sexual abuse of her five-year-old daughter by her 13-year-old son, which occurred between 2010 and 2017. The mother even allowed the siblings to sleep in the same bed, further enabling the abuse.
According to Channel NewsAsia, the accused is scheduled to be sentenced on February 22, 2024. She has been granted bail in the amount of S$15,000 while awaiting sentencing. The victim, now approximately 18 years old, was present in the public gallery during the court proceedings.
The son, now 26 years old, was previously convicted in January 2020 and sentenced to 11-and-a-half years’ imprisonment and seven strokes of the cane for his heinous acts. The mother and daughter have since been reunited under the supervision of authorities and are currently receiving social welfare assistance.
To protect the identity of the victim, a gag order has been imposed by the court, preventing the disclosure of any names involved in the case.
The disturbing series of events unfolded in a two-room public housing flat, where the mother and her four children resided. The sexual abuse began in 2010, shortly after the father left the family home. The parents divorced in 2013, and the youngest child split her time between her father and mother.
The court heard that the son had been exposed to pornographic animations and cartoons online, which influenced his behavior towards his sister. He would rub himself against her thighs or private areas, imitating the actions he witnessed in the explicit content.
One incident occurred in 2010 when the girl was five years old and her brother was 13. He carried her to the kitchen while both were partially undressed. The mother intervened before any further harm could be inflicted, questioning her son’s actions. Despite reprimanding him, similar incidents continued to occur.
On another occasion, the son assaulted his sister while she was napping, influenced by the pornographic material he had watched. The mother discovered semen stains on the girl’s underwear, prompting her to confront her son and inquire about his actions. The son denied any wrongdoing, but the mother reiterated that he must not engage in such behavior with his sister.
Shockingly, in early June 2017, the mother not only failed to intervene but instructed her 20-year-old son to share a bed with his 12-year-old sister. It was during this period that the mother caught her son in the act of raping the girl. Despite witnessing the horrific scene, the mother’s response remained consistent—she scolded her son and reiterated that he should not engage in such acts with his sister.
Later in 2017, the son raped his sister once again, even with the entire family sleeping in the same room. A confrontation ensued between the siblings when the brother objected to his sister using her mobile phone while he was sexually assaulting her. Awakened by their exchange, the mother once again admonished her son for his actions and questioned if he understood the consequences.
In October and November 2017, the girl missed her menstrual period, raising suspicion. The mother made her skip school and purchased a pregnancy test kit, which confirmed the girl’s pregnancy. Desperate to conceal the truth, the mother asked her son if he had done anything to his sister, but he remained silent. She also questioned her daughter about potential involvement with anyone besides her brother, to which the girl denied.
Instead of seeking appropriate medical attention or reporting the abuse, the mother took her daughter to a clinic in Johor Bahru for an abortion. However, the procedure could not be carried out as the pregnancy had progressed beyond eight weeks. Fearful of her son’s arrest, the mother decided not to involve the authorities and made the ill-advised choice to let her daughter keep the baby.
The truth eventually came to light when the school inquired about the girl’s extended absence. Initially claiming her daughter was unwell, the mother later revealed the disturbing reality—that her daughter was pregnant with her brother’s child. The school promptly reported the case to the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s Child Protection Services and the police.
In February 2018, the girl’s pregnancy was terminated, and a subsequent paternity test revealed that the unborn child had been fathered by someone other than her brother.
During the court proceedings, the prosecution sought a jail term of four to five years, while the defense requested a three-year sentence. The charges of knowingly allowing the ill-treatment of a child carry a maximum jail term of four years and a fine of up to S$4,000. Intentionally omitting to provide information about an offense is punishable by a jail term of up to six monthsand a fine.
