Foreign worker jailed for molesting girl, 12

SINGAPORE - A construction worker who molested a 12-year-old girl in her home when he was supposed to be renovating the toilet was jailed for four months on Thursday.

Bangladeshi Sheikh Rubel Hossen Sheikh Ismail, 27, admitted to touching and stroking the girl's left calf at her Woodlands flat on June 9.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Jeremy Lua told the court that the victim was at home using the computer when she let Rubel in to check on the kitchen toilet, as part of the block's toilet upgrading scheme.

The girl was at home with her sister, who was asleep in her room.

About 10 minutes later, Rubel approached the victim started to chat, asking about her age and how much her computer and mobile phone cost. Then he moved closer, squatted next to her, and touched her calves.

Scared, she went into her room, and emerged only after he had left, to lock the gate.

But Rubel came back 10 minutes later and persuaded her to let him back in.

This time, she called a friend for help. When Rubel asked her to put the phone down, she went to her sister's room and woke her up, and he left.

The family reported the matter to the police.

Rubel could have been jailed for up to five years, fined and caned for using criminal force to outrage the modesty of a person aged below 14.

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