Malaysian man faces jail for sexually abusing 31 boys

Image
Press Trust of India Singapore
Last Updated : Jan 17 2015 | 9:11 AM IST
A 31-year-old Malaysian has been sentenced to 30 years in jail and 24 cane strokes for sexually grooming and assaulting 31 boys over a three year period in Singapore, the worst case of such offences in the city state.
Yap Weng Wah, Malaysian engineer of Chinese origin, yesterday pleaded guilty to 12 charges of sexual abuse of a minor in the court attended by his mother, two younger siblings and aunt.
Another 63 charges of sexual abuse of a minor and one of procuring a child to commit an indecent act will be taken into consideration when he is sentenced at a later date, The Straits Times reported.
Yap had sexually groomed boys between the age of 11 and 15 years after meeting them online. The case came to light when one of the victims lodged a police report in June 2012.
He was arrested in September 2012.
Police traced 31 victims from the video footage obtained from his house.
Yap has been diagnosed by the Institute of Mental Health with hebephilia - a sexual preference for early adolescent children generally aged between 11 and 14 years.
"I am really, really sorry towards all the victims and their family...I'm very ashamed of what I have done. I wish I could turn back time to undone the damages (sic) that I've caused," Yap was quoted as saying.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jan 17 2015 | 9:11 AM IST

Next Story