Boy, 16, pleads guilty to sexually penetrating and molesting sister when he was 12 and she was 10

A 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty yesterday (Jun 4) to sexually penetrating and molesting his younger sister when he was 12 and she was just 10.

The offences took place between 2013 and 2016, before their mother reported him to the police in April last year, reported The Straits Times.

The boy faces two charges, one count for sexual penetration without consent and one count of molesting his sister, who is now 15.

Six other similar charges will also be considered during his sentencing.

Because of a gag order to protect the victim's identity, the accused cannot be named.

The court heard that the boy was 12 when he stumbled upon pornography while surfing the Internet. Although disgusted at first, he gradually became interested and started visiting pornography websites.

He often stimulated himself sexually, which led to an uncontrollable urge to imitate what he saw on these sites.

In Sep 2013, the siblings were alone at home when a sex scene on television aroused the boy. He then called his sister, who was 10 years old then, into his bedroom and said he wanted to try something with her. He threatened her, telling her that he would tell their parents that she was using her mobile phone if she did not comply.

After telling her to strip, he started touching her genitals and penetrated her.

When the girl complained that she felt pain, he stopped his act and asked her to leave the room. 

The accused then resumed sexually stimulating himself again. 

He repeated the offences against his sister several times until March 2014.

The siblings were given counselling and the boy was sent to live with his grandparents after their parents found out about his offences. He was only allowed to return home after six months and house rules were imposed to prevent a recurrence.

However, the boy began watching pornography again in Aug 2016.

He felt an immense sexual urge one night and asked his sister to enter his bedroom where he groped her breasts and genitals beneath her clothes. 

When their mother came to know about the boy's action, she reported the incident which was referred to the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). 

The police were also alerted.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Raja Mohan told the court that the accused committed the offences against his sister as she was in close proximity to him, and also because he was sure that she would not tell others what he did to her.

The siblings now live apart. The accused is currently seeing a psychologist from MSF and a psychiatrist from the National University Hospital on a regular basis. He is not on any medication.

The accused's head was lowered as his acts were read out. When District Judge May Mesenas asked if he had anything to say, he replied: "It was very wrong of me, I would like to apologise to my sister."

The boy's parents were also present in court and his mother cried as she pleaded for leniency from Judge Mesenas, saying that her daughter was attending counselling regularly.

Addressing the boy directly, Judge Mesenas said: "I can't imagine what your sister had to go through. The effects of your actions are very permanent and it would take a long time for her to heal."

The court was adjourned to assess the boy's suitability for probation and he will be appearing in court again on Jul 9, where he is expected to be sentenced.

For penetrating a girl under 16, he faces a jail term not exceeding 20 years, with a fine or caning.