Man sexually abused two granddaughters

A cleaner with a history of molesting his next-of-kin was on Wednesday sentenced to five years of corrective training.

In passing sentence on Wednesday, District Judge Low Wee Ping noted that the man's propensity to commit sexual offences on his next-of-kin was high.

"You are a grandfather of 60 years and you committed these despicable, obscene acts on a granddaughter of six years old. Not once but three times," said the judge.

The court ordered that no names be published to protect the identity of the victims.

In 2008, the cleaner committed obscene acts with a granddaughter, then six years old. Her mother lodged a police report only in February 2011 after the victim confided in a counsellor.

Then, between late 2011 and early last year, the grandfather committed an obscene act with the victim's younger sister, then eight years old.

In 1999, he had been jailed for 16 months and caned nine times for molesting one of his daughters, then nine years old at the time of the offences in 1994.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Paul Wong had asked for a corrective training sentence as the man had "abused his position as a grandfather" and had exploited the victims, who were at a very vulnerable age.

The judge told the accused: "Whilst you need to be punished for the offences, you also need help and treatment."

He added that corrective training would act as a deterrent to prevent the accused from committing sexual offences again.

The court heard that the family of 16 members share a four-room flat in Simei. Pleading for a light sentence, the cleaner, who did not have a lawyer, said that he intends to mend his ways and be "a good man".

Corrective training is a regime in which repeat offenders are jailed for five to 14 years.

It does not offer the usual one-third remission for good behaviour for offenders who are jailed.

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