A 24-year-old man was arrested for trying to procure sex from a 13-year-old girl he met online.

The victim and her mother lodged a police report on Oct 28, informing the police that an unknown man she had met online had persistently requested to meet her for sex. Officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division tracked down the suspect 6 pm the next day, and arrested him at a shopping centre near New Bridge Road.

Preliminary investigations found that the suspect had met the victim a month ago on a social media chat site. He later asked for her mobile phone number, and began texting her for sexual services. The victim's mother saw the messages, and took her to the police station to lodge a report.

Investigations are still ongoing. If convicted, the suspect is liable to a fine of not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for not more than five years, or both.