Indian man jailed for sex with underage Singapore girl

An Indian construction worker in Singapore was today sentenced to two years in jail for having sex three times with a 13-year-old girl who became pregnant as a result and underwent an abortion.
Vellakkanu Raja, 24, admitted to three counts of sexual assault in February, August and October last year, reported the Straits Times.
Three other charges of digital penetration were taken into consideration in sentencing.
On May 28 last year, the girl ran away from home. Her mother lodged a police report the next day.
The girl's mother also told Raja to stop seeing her daughter, who was still schooling. But they continued to meet.

The girl told her mother in January this year that she might be pregnant. A polyclinic confirmed that she was.

Raja was arrested at Changi Airport on January 23 for trying to leave the country. The girl underwent an abortion when she was 23 weeks pregnant.
Defence counsel said it was the victim who sought out his client by giving him a missed call on his mobile phone, and initiated contact with him by calling him to meet up.
He said they were in a "genuine and loving relationship".
Deputy Public Prosecutor Sruthi Boppana said the accused continued to seek out the victim despite her mother and cousin warning him.

She said it was utterly incredible for the defence to characterise the relationship as a case where the accused merely succumbed to the victim's advances.
Raja could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined for each charge of sexual penetration of a minor.