SINGAPORE - A teenager sexually abused his younger sister as he begrudged his parents for leaving him and his sister in the care of his grandparents while they went overseas to study.

Yesterday, the 18-year-old student was sentenced to reformative training. He was 16 at the time and the victim was 10. Neither can be named for legal reasons.

District Judge Mathew Joseph, who took three other charges into consideration, found the case "deeply disturbing". He said the accused abused his position of trust and, instead of minding and guiding his younger sister, he became her "tormentor".

The court heard that the Malaysia-born boy got home on Sept 26, 2013, and sat next to his sister, who was ill and watching television. He apologised to her for having torn a box of hers but she did not say anything to him. He then molested and sexually abused her. After the incident, he told her not to tell anyone about it.

The offence came to light on Oct 1 that year when a school counsellor asked her about her home environment.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Gabriel Choong said: "The accused had committed the offence both out of sexual curiosity and out of vengeance against his family.

"The accused has a poor relationship with his parents and begrudges them for leaving him in the care of his grandparents while they went to the United States to study."

Elena Chong