Loh Wai Seng, a 36-year-old permanent resident from Malaysia, was sentenced by the High Court on May 20, 2025. - Photo: ST
SINGAPORE: A man who lived in a rented room with his wife molested his landlord’s daughter in her own bedroom when she was 12 to 13 years old.
Loh Wai Seng, a 36-year-old permanent resident from Malaysia, was sentenced by the High Court to 3½ years’ jail and seven strokes of the cane on Tuesday (May 20).
He pleaded guilty to a charge of committing an indecent act with a child and two charges of aggravated outrage of modesty.
A fourth charge involving the possession of 2,956 obscene films was considered in sentencing.
In sentencing, Justice Audrey Lim noted that Loh had violated the victim within the sanctity of her home and exploited his position as a long-term tenant of her family.
Deputy Public Prosecutor James Chew told the court that the victim lived in a four-bedroom unit with her parents and older brother, as well as two other couples who were tenants.
Loh, who worked as a chef, had lived in one of the bedrooms with his wife since 2011.
Between December 2018 and September 2019, he touched the girl inappropriately in her room on at least four occasions.
He would quietly enter her room after he believed that everyone in the household had gone to bed.
The first incident took place after the girl woke up from a nightmare and started talking to herself.
Loh, who was in the living room, went into her room, sat down on the bed and spoke to her.
He then asked her if he could touch her. The girl agreed, as she did not understand what he meant.
After Loh touched her under her clothes, she moved away from him and pushed herself to the corner of the bed next to the wall.
When he touched her again, she started kicking her legs against the bed frame.
He left the room after telling her to keep what had happened a secret.
The girl did not tell her parents about the incidents, as she did not know how they would react.
On Sept 24, 2019, feeling distressed by Loh’s actions, and realising that he would continue if she did not talk to someone, she decided to tell her teacher about it.
The matter was escalated to the school management and the victim’s parents were informed.
A police report was lodged on Oct 18, 2019.
As a result of the incidents, the victim had a fear of sleeping facing the door, felt guilty of not disclosing the matter earlier, and avoided expressing physical affection, as it triggered memories of the incidents.
Loh’s lawyer, Mahadevan Lukshumayeh, said his client was “remorseful, regretful and ashamed” of his conduct.
The lawyer said his client had become addicted to pornography and was watching such videos before he entered the victim’s room. - The Straits Times/ANN
