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Ex-pastor, 72, jailed 3 years for repeatedly molesting girl, then-12, with language impairment
The victim’s mother had frequently sought advice from the man on family and spiritual matters.
On May 6, a 72-year-old former pastor was sentenced to three years in prison for the repeated molestation of a girl with a severe language impairment, reported The Straits Times.
After pleading guilty in April to one count of molestation, he had two additional charges of a similar nature considered during his sentencing.
To safeguard the survivor's identity, a court-ordered gag mandate prohibits the publication of names or specific details regarding the offender, the victim, or the church involved.
The victim lives with a developmental disorder that complicates her ability to comprehend and utilise language, though her hearing and intellectual faculties remain unaffected.
Molested her after asking her to help in office
The court previously heard that the victim’s mother had frequently sought advice from the man on family and spiritual matters.
During her school holidays, the girl began accompanying her mother to church daily, according to court documents seen by Mothership.
The man later asked the girl to help him with paperwork and administrative duties in his office. The offences began sometime between Apr. 16, 2015 and Apr. 15, 2016, when the girl was 12.
The abuse began with an incident where the man touched the girl's chest over her clothing.
On a different occasion, while the victim was in his office, he reached beneath her top to make direct skin contact. Several weeks later, a third instance occurred in which he touched her private parts through her clothes.
Court documents stated the offences continued until 2019, with the man carrying out acts including touching her chest and private parts.Gave her weekly payments after first incident
Deputy Public Prosecutor Adelle Tai previously told the court that after the first incident, the man began giving the victim S$20 weekly. On some weeks, he gave her S$40.
By the time the offences stopped, the victim had received around S$2,000 from him.
According to previous sentencing submissions, the prosecution described the case as a “systematic abuse of a vulnerable child over five years”.
Prosecutors also said the man had “weaponised his pastoral authority” and exploited his position as a religious leader to gain access to the victim.
In early 2022, when the victim was praying, she suddenly experienced flashbacks of the acts he had committed against her, according to the court documents.
Unable to endure the distress any longer, she confided in her sister and mother on Sep. 13 that year.
She then sought medical assistance and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The man was arrested on Dec. 8, 2025.
Serious abuse of trust
Before sentencing him, Deputy Principal District Judge Ong Chin Rhu said the case involved a serious abuse of trust.
She also noted that the offence involved skin-to-skin contact with the victim, and that the man had been a pastor at the church attended by the girl.
A woman who identified herself as the man’s friend told The Straits Times outside the courtroom that he is no longer a pastor at the church.
As the man is above 50, he cannot be caned under Singapore law.
Prosecutors had earlier sought between 36.5 and 42 months’ jail, which included an additional three months’ imprisonment in lieu of caning due to his age.
