A 33-year-old former secondary school teacher has been sentenced to nine months in prison after attempting to engage in sexual activities with three teenage girls on separate occasions in 2021.
The Singaporean man, whose identity is protected by a gag order to safeguard the victims, was described by prosecutors as a “serial predator” who systematically targeted vulnerable students.
The court heard that two of his victims were former students, while the third was still enrolled at his school when he targeted her. All three girls were between 15 and 17 years old at the time of the offences.
Instagram Messages and Hotel Room Encounter Mark Pattern of Predatory Behaviour
The former teacher began working at the school in 2017 and regularly advised student councillors. He routinely accepted follow requests from students on his personal Instagram account, which became his primary method of contacting victims.
The first victim, aged 16, received sexually suggestive messages from him in April 2021 after they reconnected online. He had previously taught her in Secondary One, and she had left the school before he began messaging her.
Using Instagram’s “vanish mode” feature to make messages disappear, he asked her to “fantasise” about him and repeatedly suggested they become “friends with benefits”. The prosecution explained this implied they would meet regularly to engage in sexual acts with each other.
The girl rejected his advances, told him to stop, and reported his behaviour to a former teacher.
In September 2021, the man targeted his second victim, then 17 years old, whom he had taught in Secondary Four. She had also left the school earlier that year. Through Instagram’s vanish mode, he asked her to share her “sexual kink” with him and told her he was willing to have sex with her if she was open to the idea.
He suggested renting a room together for sexual activities.
This victim also refused his advances, cut off contact, and later reported his conduct to a former teacher.
Current Student Lured to Tanjong Pagar Hotel Room
The third victim, a 15-year-old student councillor who was still studying at his school, became his most serious target. On 17 Oct 2021, he invited her to meet him and booked a hotel room in Tanjong Pagar.
At the hotel, while they sat on a bed, he attempted to kiss her. She pushed him away and turned her face aside. He then asked her to perform a sexual act on him and placed her hand on his private parts. She resisted and pulled her hand away.
The man stopped his advances after realising his actions had made the victim uncomfortable. He subsequently drove her home.
However, his harassment continued through inappropriate messages, prompting the girl to delete her Instagram account. He left the school at the end of 2021, but in early 2022, he contacted her via Telegram to apologise for his actions.
He revealed that reports had been filed against him regarding inappropriate messages sent to other students.
The girl then informed the school about her ordeal.
Severe Emotional Impact on Youngest Victim
Deputy Public Prosecutor Bryan Wong told the court on 11 Aug that the third victim has suffered severe emotional consequences. She now struggles with stress and frequently cries in school, requiring 30 days of medical leave per semester and sleeping pills to cope.
The incident has left her unable to form romantic relationships. Wong stated that this has severely impacted her ability to study and will have lasting ramifications on her prospects.
The former teacher pleaded guilty to four charges under the Children and Young Persons Act, including attempting to procure the commission of an indecent act by young persons aged 16 and 17.
His sentence is set to begin on 1 Sep, with bail fixed at S$20,000. The Ministry of Education confirmed he has not worked as a teacher since March 2022.
Would you be jailed for being half-naked in public? Well, the answer will shock you. Seriously. Watch this to the end and you'll understand:
