SINGAPORE: A 38-year-old man who repeatedly tried to rape his four-year-old daughter was sentenced to 13 years’ jail and 16 strokes of the cane on Monday (Jan 29).
The girl self-harmed after realising following a sex education talk that what her father had done to her was wrong.
The man had pleaded guilty in November 2022 to two counts of attempted statutory rape.
Another three charges of molesting his daughter when she was four to five years old and taking photos of her private parts when she was 11 were taken into consideration.
He cannot be named due to gag orders protecting the identity of his daughter, who is now 15.
He had attempted to rape his daughter in 2013 when she was in kindergarten, and tried to do so till the time she was in early primary school.
The girl realised something was wrong after attending a sex education talk in school in Primary 5.
The realisation shocked her and she was afraid that her friends would avoid her, or that her mother would have to bear family responsibilities if her father went to jail.
Her father had also told her not to tell anyone about what happened.
Her teacher observed cuts on her forearm in January 2022 and the case subsequently came to light.
Based on her sessions with a psychiatrist, the girl blamed herself for what her father had done to her, and her mood and daily functioning were affected.
She also blamed herself for causing her siblings to lose a father figure, and felt “very overwhelmed” and “very alone”.
She cut herself as she felt she “deserved the pain”.
A psychiatric report of her father found that he had paedophilic disorder at the time but was of sound mind. After coming to Singapore in 2001, he watched adult pornography almost daily.
Defence lawyer Akesh Abhilash from Harry Elias Partnership said at the November 2022 hearing that there was “not much to say in mitigation”.
He said his client was remorseful and had put in an early plea of guilt.
At that time, the man’s wife was in the process of divorcing him.
Where to get help:
Samaritans of Singapore Hotline: 1767
Institute of Mental Health’s Helpline: 6389 2222
Singapore Association for Mental Health Helpline: 1800 283 7019
You can also find a list of international helplines here. If someone you know is at immediate risk, call 24-hour emergency medical services.