After a family dinner celebrating his wife’s birthday, a 65-year-old man took advantage of his position of authority and forced his 11-year-old granddaughter to perform oral intercourse with him at a staircase landing.
This disturbing act was not an isolated event, as the man had been assaulting the girl since she was 10 years old.
The man, who is now 68 years old, was sentenced on Monday to 12 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of rape for the staircase landing incident, which took place back in 10 July 2020.
Family Dynamics and Regular Visits
The victim’s visits to her grandfather and step-grandmother’s flat were regular occurrences, taking place every Sunday. These visits involved the girl’s mother, stepfather, and step-siblings, reflecting a close-knit family structure.
On July 10, 2020, the family gathered to celebrate the birthday of the girl’s step-grandmother. After dinner, the victim’s step-grandmother asked the girl to accompany her grandfather to buy durians at a nearby stall. On their way back to the flat, the man took advantage of the staircase landing, one flight of stairs up from the ground floor, to carry out his disturbing actions.
The Victim’s Traumatic Experience
The victim’s horror and disgust were palpable as she turned away when the man attempted to kiss her. However, he proceeded to pull down her jeans and molest her. The girl, wanting to escape the situation, tried to walk away, but the man forcibly grabbed her wrist, pulling her back. He then coerced her into performing oral on him, compounding the physical and emotional trauma she experienced. The girl was also too young at the time to understand the gravity of the depravity that she was being subjected to by her grandfather.
The victim’s inability to confide in a trusted adult further highlights the complexity of the situation. Despite feeling anger towards her grandfather, the girl found it challenging to disclose the offenses committed against her.
The turning point came when the girl, in the wake of a disagreement with her mother, confided in her form teacher. Recognizing the severity of the situation, the teacher referred the girl to a school counselor, who then contacted the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
Child protection officers swiftly took action, facilitating the girl’s police report and subsequent arrest of the perpetrator.
The Devastating Impact on the Victim
The victim’s emotional and psychological well-being suffered immensely due to the man’s acts. In her victim impact statement, she revealed the nightmares she endured, reliving the trauma inflicted upon her by her grandfather.
The distress caused by the abuse led her to contemplate self-harm, necessitating counseling to address thoughts of self harm.
While she has made progress in her recovery, she continues to experience flashbacks and fear older men. Anxiety and physical symptoms, such as sweaty palms, surface whenever an older man sits beside her on the bus.
Dark history
The man’s abhorrent behavior didn’t start with the incident at the staircase landing. He began molesting his granddaughter when she was just 10 years old.
Over a span of more than 1½ years, he subjected her to various offenses, inflicting immense emotional and psychological harm on the young girl.
The legal ramifications of the man’s actions are significant. In 2020, the definition of rape in the Penal Code was expanded to include oral penetration without consent. This legal amendment ensures that all forms of non-consensual acts are treated with the severity they deserve.
In this case, the man’s conviction for rape reflects the gravity of his actions and the impact they had on the victim.
Sentencing and Caning Considerations
The man’s sentence of 12 years’ imprisonment includes a six-month term in lieu of caning. Traditionally, the crime of rape carries a minimum punishment of 12 strokes of the cane. However, the man, being over 50 years old, is exempted from caning. This exemption is due to the physical limitations that come with age.
Additional Charges Taken Into Consideration
The severity of the man’s actions is underscored by the fact that eight other charges were taken into consideration during sentencing. These charges include a second rape charge, as well as charges for molesting the girl, showing her an obscene image on his mobile phone, and exposing himself to her.