In a chilling case that highlights the darkest depths of deception and exploitation, a 23-year-old man was recently sentenced to 18 years, 11 months, and three weeks in prison, along with 16 strokes of the cane, for a series of crimes that included raping a girl to help her “get rid of spirits” under the guise of being a “temple medium, according to a report by The Straits Times.
A Tale of Deceit and Betrayal
The man, who was 20-years-old at the time of the offences, harbored unreciprocated feelings for a female friend, a 22-year-old woman.
Instead of dealing with his emotions maturely, he took a sinister turn. He concocted a bizarre and twisted plan that involved convincing her of the presence of malevolent spirits trailing her, all while posing as a temple medium with the power to rid her of these ethereal tormentors.
Over several days from 22 July to 27 July in 2019, he executed this nefarious plan, masquerading as a spiritual savior, performing fake consecration rituals that gradually escalated from molestation to rape. To make matters worse, he even attempted to make her pregnant, hoping it would coerce her into staying with him.
The Manipulative Web
The perpetrator and the victim had a history that traced back to their time in secondary school, with the victim addressing him as “kor” (elder brother), despite him being younger.
In mid-2019, they rekindled their friendship when he reached out to her on Facebook. He played the role of a concerned friend, driving her to work, sharing meals with her and another friend, all while nursing romantic feelings that she did not reciprocate.
His descent into deceit deepened as he spun a fantastical tale of his involvement with a temple and his status as a medium for the Chinese mythological character Chang Er.
He further cemented his deception by taking her to the temple, setting the stage for his sinister plot.
The Twisted Rituals
The climax of his manipulation revolved around the claim that malevolent spirits were haunting the victim and her sister, with ghosts lurking within their home.
He assured them that he possessed the ability to perform consecration rituals to banish these spirits, offering amulets and talismans as supposed protection.
During these so-called “rituals,” the man would chant prayers and draw talisman markings on the victim’s body with his finger. Initially, she was fully clothed, but he gradually convinced her to disrobe, deceiving her into believing that these explicit acts were an integral part of the rituals.
On July 25, 2019, he went a step further, coercing her into believing that intercourse was a necessary component of the consecration ritual, exploiting her trust and vulnerability.
It was only after the second rape on July 27, 2019, that the victim confided in her friends about the horrors she had endured. Encouraged by her friends, she then proceeded to lodge a police report, leading to the arrest and prosecution of the man.