A 24-year-old camp instructor has been sentenced to eight weeks’ jail for sending sexually explicit messages and an obscene photo to a 15-year-old girl after conducting a school camp. Ilyas Mohd Yusoff, who worked for an external consultancy, broke company rules by maintaining inappropriate contact with the student through social media.
Incident Details
The incident occurred after Ilyas’ company was engaged to run a three-day camp for the girl’s secondary school in March 2023. Following the camp, Ilyas and the student connected on Instagram, despite a clear company policy prohibiting such interactions. Over the next few months, they communicated frequently via Telegram and Snapchat.
- Ilyas sent sexually explicit messages to the girl, asking her to engage in sexual activities.
- On 1 May 2023, he sent an obscene photo to her, intending for her to feel compelled to threaten to leak it—in a misguided attempt to gratify himself through blackmail.
Legal Proceedings
Upon receiving the obscene photo, the girl felt disgusted and uncomfortable, leading her to report the incident to her school. Law enforcement soon became involved. Deputy Public Prosecutor Gladys Lim argued for a harsher sentence, noting the prolonged and explicit nature of their exchanges.
In his defence, Ilyas’ lawyer, Ashvin Hariharan, highlighted that his client was a first-time offender who cooperated with the investigation. He argued that there was no abuse of trust, as Ilyas was not the girl’s teacher but a camp instructor who had limited interaction.
Sentencing Outcome
The court ultimately sentenced Ilyas to eight weeks in jail, significantly lower than the 12 to 15 weeks requested by the prosecution. Though Ilyas was convicted of intentionally causing a minor to observe a sexual image—an offence punishable by up to two years in jail—his clean record and age were considered mitigating factors in the judge’s decision.
The case serves as a stern reminder of the importance of safeguarding minors in educational settings and the critical role of reporting inappropriate behaviour.