Man who oversaw PA youth network handed jail sentence for sexually assaulting teen

SINGAPORE - A man who previously worked with young people at the People’s Association (PA) has been handed a jail sentence of 10 years and six months for sexually assaulting a then 16-year-old boy.

According to a judgment dated March 3, Ranjeet Prasad manipulated the teen, who had aspirations of becoming a singer or an actor. The abuse took place in 2007. 

The accused, who the prosecution said showed a total lack of remorse, was found guilty of three counts of having carnal intercourse against the order of nature. 

In sentencing Prasad, District Judge John Ng took into account that there was abuse of a position of authority by the accused. 

The judge said the incidents negatively impacted the victim’s life, adding: “He had a girlfriend at that point in time, and the incidents had left him questioning his sexual orientation and prospects for marriage.”

Prasad first met the teen in 2007 at an office in Paya Lebar. There is a gag order in place to protect the identity of the victim. 

The accused was then managing PA’s community projects in the South East and North West community development councils (CDCs), and oversaw the South East CDC’s youth network programme.

In his testimony, the victim said he had been excited to join the youth network as it involved modelling. It was something he was interested in pursuing, in line with his hopes of becoming a singer or actor.

In a subsequent meeting, Prasad asked the victim if he was interested in modelling, and told him that he had the potential to do well. The accused added that he was interested in working with the victim. 

Seeing that the victim was keen, Prasad took down his contact number and later messaged him.

Prasad asked the victim “how far he was willing to go” and whether he had performed oral sex before. 

The victim said no, and testified that he was confused at that moment.

Some time later, Prasad invited him to his office. The teen said he felt excited and agreed because he thought he might be securing a photo shoot, or could be signed up or recruited as a talent. 

At the time, he felt Prasad’s earlier question of a sexual nature was only playful. 

In the office, the accused asked the teen if he wanted to get himself into a photo shoot, and if he was “adventurous”. Prasad took the teen to a public toilet and made the boy perform a sexual act on him in one of the cubicles. 

A week or two later, Prasad arranged to meet the victim in Lavender. 

The boy agreed, only because he again thought that an audition or photo shoot was being arranged for him.

The accused instead took him to a hotel and undressed himself, and told the boy to follow suit. The victim felt he had to get it “done and over with”.

Prasad then made the victim perform a sexual act on him, before sexually penetrating the boy. 

On July 24, 2018, the victim contacted the accused – who had become PA’s head of youth and sports in 2017 – via Facebook Messenger, wanting to meet him. 

The victim wanted to let Prasad know how the acts he had been subjected to as a boy had destroyed him. 

There was an exchange of messages before the accused called and spoke to the victim on the phone, but Prasad subsequently blocked the victim on social media. 

On May 30, 2020, the victim wrote to Prasad’s work e-mail address, accusing Prasad of having manipulated him into engaging in sexual activities in a carpark toilet and in a hotel room. 

Prasad did not respond. The victim eventually lodged a police report on Aug 24, 2020. 

During the trial, the accused, who was represented by Mr Martin De Cruz, denied committing any of the acts, but Judge Ng said he had no reservations about believing the victim’s account.

He said the teen’s description from his memory of the incident in the toilet was sufficiently detailed in particulars and connected in sequence.

Judge Ng also said the victim had no motive to lie and nothing to gain from fabricating untruths against Prasad. 

He added that the victim could not tell anyone about the abuse as his strong religious upbringing made him fearful.

In sentencing Prasad, Judge Ng said it was aggravating that the accused took advantage of a youthful person who was in his late teens to satisfy his lust. 

“The acts of the accused and the manner of luring the victim with the promise of a bright future revealed a highly corruptive influence being exerted by the accused to achieve his lascivious aims. This is particularly aggravating,” he said.

Prasad is appealing against the conviction and sentence. 

The PA said it takes a serious view of the offences committed by Prasad, adding that all its staff are expected to uphold strict standards of conduct and integrity expected of the public service.

The association said it acted decisively to safeguard the interests and safety of youths and took immediate action to place Prasad on leave once it learnt of his arrest.

It added that Prasad was suspended in early September 2020 and was not involved in PA work until his dismissal on Oct 23, 2024, the day he was convicted.