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In yet another case of teacher misconduct in Singapore, an educator was yesterday (16 July) found guilty of molesting his 13-year-old student.
During the trial, the teacher denied molesting the teenager despite incriminating accounts from the school principal, vice principal and the victim himself.
He was found guilty of three counts of molestation and will receive his sentence in August. He may face up to five years of jailtime, a fine and/or caning. The Ministry of Education said that strict disciplinary action will be taken against the teacher, who has been suspended since the incident.
The court heard that the teacher had brazenly committed the acts even though there were other students seated nearby.
The incident took place after school hours when the students were working on a group art project. After the first attack around 3pm, the court heard that “the victim felt uncomfortable” but “shrugged it off” and continued his work as he wanted to complete the project. His groupmates subsequently left for home.
After molesting the student, the teacher went to a different art room nearby. At around 4pm or 5pm, the student sought the teacher to ask for feedback on his work. The teacher then asked him questions on sensitive topics and molested the boy two more times.
The student was shocked at the repeat incident and pushed the teacher’s hand away although he did not say anything. He then walked out of the room. The court heard that as the student left the room, the teacher asked him, “why? Too shy?”
Upon reaching home, the victim told his mother, who subsequently called his form teacher. The school management was immediately alerted.
The school principal testified in court that she and the vice principal met the teacher the next day. She said he seemed “shocked and remorseful” and told her he knew “he was overboard”.
However, in court the teacher had denied molesting the student and his lawyers urged the judge to acquit their client. He is currently out on a $15,000 bail.
“MoE takes a serious view of educator misconduct. Educators who fail to comply with our standards of conduct and discipline will be subjected to disciplinary action. In serious cases, they may be dismissed from the service,” a ministry spokesman told The Straits Times.
Last week, a teacher was jailed 16 months for having an indecent relationship with his 15-year-old student.
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