An autistic piano teacher who molested his five-year-old student, the youngest of his seven students, in 2016, was sentenced to three year’s probation on November 23.
Justice Pang Khang Chau said that he considered the fact that the man, who is now 22, would suffer “disproportionately” in prison because of his autism.
He also considered other factors such as his suitability for probation and his reformation progress.
Justing Pang also highlighted that he recognised the fact that a jail term would impact the man differently from other people of his age.
However, he noted that this doesn’t mean that all offenders with autism should not be jailed, or that Singapore’s prison service in not capable of taking care of such persons.
The man will also have to complete 100 hours of community service, and cannot be with anyone below 12-years-old without parental or older sibling supervision.
He is not allowed to be employed in any child-related professions and is not to access any adult materials.
Molesting his student
The man pleaded guilty in April.
He was a part time teacher at a piano studio, when he was alone with the girl in the piano studio.
He then slipped his hand inside the 5-year-old girl’s underwear, pretending to correct her posture.
He repeatedly scratched her genital area even after she kept saying “ouch” and told him to stop.
The victim didn’t know that her private parts shouldn’t be touched without consent, so she didn’t tell anyone about it.
The girl’s mother found her crying in pain in the toilet at home one day and that was when the truth came to light.