Reform training for the second youngest of four brothers who sexually abused their sister

WHAT HAPPENED

The perpetrator was the last of the four defendants to sexually abuse his sister.

According to court documents, his other brothers had already sexually abused the girl at least once at the time of his indictment.

Although the perpetrator knew that his two older brothers had sexually abused his sister, he decided to “remain silent.”

In 2020, the perpetrator decided to sexually abuse the victim to “satisfy his sexual urges” and harassed her whenever he felt like it.

This happened no less than four times this year in the girls’ restroom, even though he knew that the girl did not consent to the sexual acts and would try to resist him.

Once in 2020, the perpetrator entered the girls’ restroom after having sexually abused her on previous occasions that same year.

At this point he was alone with the victim.

The perpetrator lay down next to her on the bed and sexually abused her. The girl told him not to touch her and tried to get out of his way.

However, when her brother persisted, “the girl did not resist further because she already knew what was going to happen and was afraid,” court documents say.

On February 10, 2022, the victim finally found the courage to report the sexual abuse to her school.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development was alerted and a report was filed with the police on the same day.

One day later, the perpetrator was arrested.

When first confronted by police, he denied the sexual assault, but later admitted to doing so on at least two occasions.

Victim blamed himself

During the years of abuse, the victim did not dare to tell anyone about the incidents.

The court heard that she had only pretended to be happy by putting on a fake smile, even though she was stressed and sad.

After reporting the incident, the victim felt scared and guilty and blamed herself for not stopping her brothers when the abuse happened.

She was examined by a psychiatrist at the Child Guidance Clinic in May 2022 and said she has been sad, confused, nervous, scared and angry since the abuse and keeps thinking about it.

The psychiatrist said in a report that the victim would benefit from a safe, supportive environment and counseling.

The victim was also examined at the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital for sexual assault.

The report found that she had probably had her first period at age 10, was not sexually active other than the assault, and did not have any sexually transmitted diseases.

At the hearing in February, deputy public prosecutors Muhamad Imaduddien, Lim Ying Min and M Kayal Pillay called for eight to nine years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane for the perpetrator.

However, defense attorney Ashvin Hariharan requested that IRB Law prepare an expert opinion on the suitability of a reformatory motion for his client.

In sentencing on Wednesday, Judge Hoo Sheau Peng said the defendant was not a “hardened” offender and had not engaged in any further sexual assaults and had stopped such behaviour after the incidents in 2020.

Judge Hoo added that the offender had already been in custody for over two years, which was a sufficient deterrent.

The public prosecutor informed the court that it would appeal the verdict.

The perpetrator is the third brother to be brought to trial.

On May 20, the eldest of the brothers was sentenced to 20 years in prison and 24 lashes.

One day later, the second eldest brother was sentenced to 18 years in prison and 24 lashes.

The remaining brother’s case is still pending.

On March 12, he pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated rape. Six other charges were taken into consideration in sentencing.

This article was originally published in TODAY.