Man jailed for rape of 13-year-old he met online | The Straits Times
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/man-who-raped-13-year-old-girl-he-met-online-gets-almost-9-years-jail-caning
Full Details: Kevin Tan Jia Hut, 28, sentenced to 8 years 9 months’ jail + 6 strokes of cane (Jun 9, 2026)
📌 Case Overview
- Accused: Kevin Tan Jia Hut, 25 at time of offence, now 28, Singaporean
- Victim: 13-year-old girl, identity protected by gag order
- Offence: Rape (1 charge guilty plea; 3 other similar charges considered in sentencing)
- Sentence: 8 years 9 months’ imprisonment + 6 strokes of the cane
- Law: Sex with girl under 14 = rape regardless of consent; penalty up to 20 years jail, fine, caning
📅 Timeline of Events
- May 2023: Met on Omegle (anonymous video chat platform). Conversations quickly turned sexual; moved to Telegram to plan meeting for sex.
- June 2023: First met at night on staircase of HDB block near her home. She performed sexual act, left quickly as she had sneaked out.
- July 7–8, 2023: She messaged him saying she wanted sex. His mother & sister were overseas; he booked a private-hire car for her to come to his place ~2:22 AM. They had intercourse with condom in his room; he booked another car to send her home, walked her downstairs.
- July 10, 2023: Her mother made police report after daughter said she was raped (reason not disclosed).
- Investigation: Victim told police she had sex with multiple men; Tan identified, arrested Aug 10, 2023.
⚖️ Prosecution & Sentencing
- Prosecution demand: 9–9.5 years jail + 6 strokes. Argued: “This was no youthful folly” — he was 25, fully aware she was a child; deterrence is top priority.
- Court reasoning: Accepted seriousness, grooming, exploitation of minor, planning, and repeated contact. Guilty plea given some credit, but sentence remained close to prosecution’s request.
⚠️ Key Notes
- Consent irrelevant: Under Singapore law, a child under 14 cannot legally consent to sex — all such acts are rape.
- Online grooming: Began on anonymous platform, moved to private chat to arrange meetings — typical pattern of targeting minors.
- Gag order: Victim’s name/id
entity permanently protected.