Man jailed and caned for sexually assaulting nine-year-old boy
POSTED: 09 May 2013 5:49 PM
File photo: The Subordinate Courts in Singapore. (photo: Francine Lim, channelnewsasia.com)
SINGAPORE: A man has been sentenced to a total of 10 years' jail and ordered to be given 15 strokes of the cane for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old boy.
Benjamin Francis, 44, was sentenced to nine years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane for aggravated sexual assault of a person under 14 years.
He received another one year and three strokes of the cane for the outrage of modesty charge.
Both sentences are to run consecutively.
In sentencing, the district judge said what makes the case alarming is the young age of the victim.
The court heard how Francis, a divorcee, sexually assaulted the Primary 3 student on 8 November, 2011, in the early hours of the morning.
The incident occurred at one of the staircase landings of a multi-storey carpark at Tanglin Halt Road.
Francis was washing plates at a food court in the area prior to the incident.
The victim was there with a friend.
Francis then asked the victim for help in collecting and washing the plates.
The victim agreed while his friend left.
By the time the victim finished helping out, it was nearly midnight.
Francis grabbed the victim and brought him to the multi-storey carpark at Tanglin Halt Road where he sexually assaulted the boy.
- CNA/de
