Public Prosecutor v ABJ: Sexual Offences Against a Minor
In Public Prosecutor v ABJ, the High Court of Singapore sentenced ABJ to 24 years' imprisonment for sexual offences against a minor. ABJ pleaded guilty to nine charges, with 35 others taken into consideration. The offences included violations of the Penal Code and the Children and Young Persons Act. The court considered aggravating factors such as the victim's age, the serial nature of the offences, and the breach of trust.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Accused sentenced to 24 years imprisonment
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
ABJ was sentenced to 24 years' imprisonment for multiple sexual offences against a minor, including offences under the Penal Code and the Children and Young Persons Act.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Prosecution | Government Agency | Judgment for the Prosecution | Won | Gordon Oh |
| ABJ | Defendant | Individual | Accused sentenced to 24 years imprisonment | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Gordon Oh | Deputy Public Prosecutor |
4. Facts
- The accused was charged with 44 charges of sexual offences.
- The accused pleaded guilty to nine charges.
- The offences were committed against a female from the age of 8 to 15.
- The accused was a medium in a Chinese temple and an odd job labourer.
- The accused was a friend of the complainant's family and often stayed at their flat.
- The offences occurred at various locations, including the complainant's family flat and the accused's flat.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v ABJ, CC 29/2009, [2009] SGHC 185
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Offences against the complainant began in the Bangkit Road flat around January or February. | |
| Complainant's parents divorced. | |
| Offence under s 7 of the Children and Young Persons Act committed in the Lower Delta Road flat. | |
| Offence under s 377 of the Penal Code committed in the Gangsa Road flat around the same time. | |
| Offence under s 376A(1)(b) of the Penal Code committed. | |
| Offence under s 376A(1)(a) of the Penal Code committed. | |
| Terms of imprisonment were to take effect. | |
| Judgment Date |
7. Legal Issues
- Sexual Offences
- Outcome: Accused found guilty and sentenced.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Imprisonment
9. Cause of Actions
- Sexual Offences
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Law
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Penal Code (Cap 224, 1985 Rev Ed) s 376(2) | Singapore |
| Children and Young Persons Act (Cap 38, 2001 Rev Ed) s 7 | Singapore |
| Penal Code (Cap 224, 1985 Rev Ed) s 377 | Singapore |
| Penal Code (Cap 224, 2008 Rev Ed) s 376A(1)(a) | Singapore |
| Penal Code (Cap 224, 2008 Rev Ed) s 376A(1)(b) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Sexual offences
- Penetration
- Minor
- Imprisonment
- Aggravating factors
15.2 Keywords
- sexual offences
- minor
- Penal Code
- Children and Young Persons Act
- Singapore
- criminal law
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Sexual Offences
- Child Abuse
17. Areas of Law
- Criminal Law
- Sentencing