Man gets 12 months' jail for sex with minor

An odd job laborer was sentenced to 12 months' jail on Thursday for having sex with a girl half his age. PHOTO: ST GRAPHICS

SINGAPORE - An odd job laborer was sentenced to 12 months' jail on Thursday for having sex with a girl half his age.

Xavier Lee Wei Jie, 24, admitted to one count of sexual penetration of a minor.

The pair had met through mutual friends at West Mall in Bukit Batok on March 17.

Later that night, Lee invited the victim, who was a secondary one student at that time, to his flat and she agreed.

He led her into his bedroom to chit-chat but they got soon got intimate by kissing and hugging each other. He then suggested to the victim to have sex.

She was reluctant at first, but Lee managed to persuade her and they proceeded to have unprotected sex.

The incident was brought to light when the victim later revealed it to her family members who then lodged a police report.

The prosecution called for a jail term of between 12 to 15 months, citing the large age gap and the absence of any romantic relationship between the pair.

When asked by the judge if he had anything to say, Lee replied: "I'm sorry".

For sexual penetration of a minor, Lee could have been jailed 10 years and fined.

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