A 61-year-old man who worked as a cook at a pre-school in Singapore has been convicted of molesting three toddlers aged between one and two years old over seven months in 2023.
Teo Guan Huat, a Malaysian and Singapore permanent resident, pleaded guilty on 27 Oct 2025 to three counts of molestation of minors, with another five charges to be considered during sentencing.​
The Offences
Teo inserted his hands into the toddlers’ diapers and molested them during naptime between May and November 2023.
He committed these acts two to three times per week while other teachers were present in the classroom.​
On one occasion in November 2023, Teo molested a two-year-old girl at least nine times over approximately one hour. Around 20 children and several teachers were in the classroom at the time.​
He would position himself strategically and raise his right leg to block the view of other teachers. When he noticed a teacher looking in his direction, he would stop.​
How The Case Came To Light
An employee discovered Teo’s actions on 16 Nov 2023 while reviewing CCTV footage for an unrelated matter. The footage showed Teo inserting his hand under a two-year-old girl’s diaper.​
Members of the school’s management committee confronted him and asked him to leave. He resigned on 23 Nov 2023.​
However, a police report was only filed on 2 December 2023, reported The Straits Times.
Between the time his actions were discovered in November and when police were notified, the school’s CCTV system was reformatted, erasing prior footage.​
Police arrested Teo on 4 Dec 2023 after managing to recover the deleted footage.​
The Accused’s Admissions
After his arrest, Teo admitted to molesting three girls aged two or younger, whom he knew by name.
He told authorities he had erectile dysfunction and had never been in a relationship, saying he “wanted to see and wanted to touch”.​
Teo explained he targeted children instead of adults because children could not speak and he believed it would be harder to get caught.
The victims felt close to him and would hug him when they saw him, according to Deputy Public Prosecutor Claire Poh.​
Following his arrest, Teo was diagnosed with paedophilic disorder.​
His Role At The Pre-School
Teo was employed solely as a cook at the pre-school for about a year before his resignation. Despite this, he was allowed to escort children for their showers, set up their mattresses, and pat them to sleep during naptime.​
Deputy Public Prosecutor Quek Lu Yi said these duties were not part of what he had been employed to do.​
Four Women Charged Over Cover-Up
Four women aged between 48 and 66 have been charged in relation to allegedly covering up the incident. The women, whose identities are protected by a gag order, received between one and three charges each.​
Sentencing Arguments
The prosecution has sought 10 years’ jail for Teo, arguing that the victims were extremely vulnerable and that he specifically targeted them because they would never be able to report him.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Claire Poh said parents should be able to feel safe when they entrust their toddlers to pre-schools.​
She added there was “some abuse of trust” as Teo was close to the victims.​
The parents of one of the victims attended the hearing but declined comment. They indicated they were not even sure which of the three victims described in the court hearing was their daughter.​
The judge said he required time to consider the sentence and adjourned the case to 10 Nov 2025. For each count of molesting a minor, Teo could be jailed for up to five years and fined. He cannot be caned as he is above 50 years old.​
The name of the pre-school and the identities of the victims remain protected by a court-imposed gag order.
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