SINGAPORE - A Malaysian man repeatedly touched the groin of a 12-year-old girl on a crowded bus while she was on her way to school in February.

Cleaner Muhammad Aszly Amran, 26, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 months' jail on Tuesday (May 24) for molesting a minor.

The court heard that on Feb 3, Aszly and the girl, a Secondary 1 student, boarded SBS bus number 17 at about 6.30am.

Aszly stood beside the girl even though the bus was not crowded.

She was wearing her school PE T-shirt and skirt, and noticed Aszly glancing at her several times.

As the bus was travelling along Bedok North Avenue 4 about 15 minutes later, the driver made a sudden brake, causing the bus to jerk. At this point, Aszly groped the girl's groin area over her skirt, scratching her with his fingers in between her legs.

The girl tried to move away, but could not as the bus was too crowded by then.

She then tried to push Aszly away, but he continued touching her groin, and alighted five minutes later.

For his offence, Aszly could have received up to five years' jail, a fine and caning.