Crane operator gets 12 years' jail, 9 strokes of the cane for raping 12-year-old girl

Lee Seow Peng (right) was on Wednesday (April 13) sentenced to 12 years' jail and nine strokes of the cane for statutory rape, sexual grooming of a minor and attempting to get the minor to perform an indecent act. PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER

SINGAPORE - A 39-year-old married man who raped a 12-year-old girl days after meeting her through a mobile phone messaging application, was on Wednesday (April 13) sentenced to 12 years' jail and nine strokes of the cane.

Crane operator Lee Seow Peng was found guilty in January after a nine-day trial of three charges for statutory rape, sexual grooming of a minor and attempting to get the minor to perform an indecent act.

During the trial, the court heard that Lee, who used the name Lucifer, first met the girl through the app in May 2012, and exchanged messages with her.

A few days later, he picked her up near her school and drove her to an open carpark at Chinese Garden where he had sex with her in the backseat of his car.

The offences came to light after the girl's mother discovered his messages when he tried to arrange another meeting with the girl.

Lee is out on a bail of $100,000 pending an appeal.

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