Retiree, 63, on trial for sexual assault of boy, 12, in Tampines park toilet

Chua Hock Leong is accused of performing oral sex on the Secondary 1 student in January 2016 PHOTO: ST GRAPHICS

SINGAPORE - A 63-year-old retiree went on trial on Tuesday (July 18) for allegedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy at a park toilet in Tampines.

Chua Hock Leong, who is married with a daughter, is accused of performing oral sex on the Secondary 1 student in January last year. He is contesting the charge.

The High Court heard that the boy, who lives with his mother, stepfather and younger brother, ran away from home on Jan 26 last year (16) and spent the night at Changi airport.

The next morning, he made his way to Tampines to meet his best friend, who handed him a change of clothes. The boy then followed his friend to school and waited outside for him to be dismissed.

At about 9.30am, the boy was sitting on the stairs at a block of flats opposite the school when Chua befriended him. When Chua asked if he wanted to walk to the Tampines Eco Green park with him, the boy agreed.

Opening the prosecution's case, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nicholas Lai said the boy would testify that he was relieving himself inside a cubicle at a toilet in the park when Chua barged in and performed oral sex on the boy.

The boy pushed Chua away and ran off, taking a taxi to his biological father's home. That evening, the boy went to KK Women's and Children's Hospital on his own as he felt unwell.

Meanwhile, the boy's mother had filed a missing persons report at about 1.35pm. She received a call from the hospital and rushed down with the boy's stepfather.

After the boy told them what had happened, the mother reported this to the police officer who was assigned to handle the missing persons case.

Chua was arrested on Jan 31.

Mr Lai told the court that Chua's DNA was found on the boy's shorts and the door handle of the toilet. Two palm prints lifted from the door handle also matched Chua's left palm.

If convicted of sexual assault by penetration, Chua could be jailed for between eight and 20 years. He cannot be caned as he is above 50 years of age.

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