7 years' jail for sexually abusing 13-year-old girl

SINGAPORE - He was her religious teacher and was asked by her mother to bring her home from school every day.

One day, instead of doing so, Zainal Abidin Mayuni took the 13-year-old girl to his flat in Hougang, where he sexually abused her.

On Friday, the 45-year-old technician was jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to five counts of sexual penetration of a minor between 2010 and 2011.

At the last hearing, the court heard that Zainal Abidin taught the victim Muqaddam (basic Quranic verses) reading from 2006 to 2007.

In 2010, the victim's mother sought his help to bring the victim home from school every day as she had poor health.

He took the victim back to his flat instead one day in late April, when his wife and daughter were not at home, and committed the offence, according to investigations. The victim and he agreed to have anal sex after she had turned down his request for sexual intercourse. After the act, he gave her $10 for transport and school expenses.

The following month, Zainal Abidin met her at her school and gave her $10 to take a taxi to his flat as he did not bring along an extra helmet for his motorcycle.

At his home, he committed sexual acts with her again.

He repeated these acts over the next year.

The offences came to light when the girl confided in her cou-sin as she felt frustrated that he kept asking her for sex.

The court heard that she did not tell her parents about the incidents earlier as they trusted Zainal Abidin and treated him as a family member.

The victim also regarded her religious teacher as a "god-uncle" who bought her things and gave her money.

On May 2, 2011, two days after the victim lodged a report that she was "raped", Zainal Abidin left for Batam with his family. The next day, he went to Pekanbaru, Sumatra, alone. He remained in Indonesia until his arrest in August for overstaying.

Mr Jason Dendroff said that his client, whose divorce was finalised in June, committed the offences without knowing their severity.The victim was a consensual party, he said in mitigation.

"He has brought about immense shame to himself, his daughter and his family, for which he deeply regrets," the lawyer added.

According to the victim impact statement, the victim is still traumatised by the incidents.

Zainal Abidin could have been jailed for up to 10 years and/or fined on each charge.

elena@sph.com.sg

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