SINGAPORE – A male teacher has been sentenced to two years and six months’ jail for molesting a former pupil, while a Malaysian man received a three years and nine months’ jail term for his involvement in a transnational scam.
On 21 November 2024, the teacher, whose identity is protected by a gag order, was convicted of molesting the victim between 2016 and 2018. The now 18-year-old victim revealed in court that she suffered from major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder following the abuse.
Teacher’s Offences and Conviction
- The teacher was her form teacher in Primary 5 and began inappropriate communications through a WhatsApp group.
- The molestation incidents occurred when she was aged 10 to 13, starting in Primary 5 and continuing into Secondary 1.
- He has been suspended since June 2020 and will appeal against his conviction.
The victim confided in him regarding personal matters while he provided supposed academic support. However, instead of fostering a safe environment, he was found to be abusing his position of trust.
Criminal Activity Linked to Scams
In a separate case, a 26-year-old Malaysian, Garald Lim Chuen Wen, was sentenced on 18 November 2024 after being involved in collecting over $500,000 from scam victims. He was recruited by a crime syndicate known as “OpenPay” to handle money which he suspected was linked to illegal activities.
- Lim collected a total of $427,151 from two victims, particularly targeting wealthier individuals seeking investment opportunities on social media platforms.
- Both victims were convinced to part with their money under the guise of a fake investment scheme that involved cryptocurrencies.
The first victim lost $363,000, laying out the case for how Lim was misled into believing he was conducting legitimate business. He even claimed that he received a commission for his “services” from the syndicate.
Despite his defence lawyers arguing for leniency based on cooperation with authorities, the seriousness of the crimes led to a significant sentence.