SINGAPORE — After urinating at the foot of an HDB block, an intoxicated 15-year-old girl lay down as she felt the urge to vomit.

Instead of helping her, two male friends sexually assaulted her, and one of them raped her.

The 21-year-old man, then 19, pleaded guilty to one count of rape on Thursday (31 October). Another seven charges, including helping his 20-year-old male friend in his rape attempt, sexual assault by digital penetration, and criminal intimidation, have been stood down for the time being.

The 20-year-old man’s case is still pending before the courts. His current charges include two counts of sexual assault by penetration and one count of attempted rape.

None of the parties involved can be named to protect the victim’s identity.

Facts of the case

The victim, a Singapore permanent resident, is now 17 years old. She met both the 21-year-old and 20-year-old men and two other male friends, 19 and 18 years old respectively, in August or September 2017. Court documents did not state how they met. The victim would meet the four men occasionally in Pasir Ris.

On 17 October 2017, at about 1am, the victim joined three of the men without the 21-year-old man present, at a coffeeshop in Pasir Ris.

Although initially reluctant to meet them, the victim agreed as she knew one of the men present was protective of her. The 21-year-old man joined them sometime later.

The group later left for a nearby void deck where they consumed more beer. The victim, the 21-year-old man and a third man then played a game of Truth or Dare involving questions of a sexual nature. As she refused to answer certain questions, the victim was made to drink beer each time as a forfeit. She consumed at least four cans of beer.

When she later had a private conversation with the man she was closest to, one of the men asked the 21-year-old and 20-year old if they wanted to have sex with the victim. Both men thought the question was a joke, but went to buy three condoms for $1 from a nearby provision shop.

The 21-year-old man later said he wanted to go home and the group of five headed towards a block in Pasir Ris Central. The victim, who was intoxicated by now, was unable to walk properly. She was piggybacked by the other men.

At about 4.05am, she felt the urge to urinate and did so at a corner at the foot of Block 557 Pasir Ris Street 51. The 21-year-old and 20-year-old waited nearby for her, while the other two men walked ahead.

Feeling the urge to vomit, the girl then lay down near where she had urinated. The 21-year-old and 20-year-old initially attempted to rouse the inebriated girl but she remained unresponsive.

Both then molested the girl before the 21-year-old removed her shorts and panties. Both men sexually assaulted her before the 21-year-old man put on a condom and raped her. One of the men who had walked ahead called the 20-year-old to find out where they were. However, the 20-year-old ignored the calls. He texted the friend to say that the two men were taking care of the girl as she was vomiting.

The 20-year-old man also attempted to rape the girl, but could not sustain a firm erection. He only managed to rub his penis against the girl. He then sexually assaulted the girl’s mouth.

The girl drifted in and out of consciousness during the incident but was aware of what was happening to her. She tried to resist t the 20-year-old but was to weak to do so.

After the 21-year-old and 20-year-old completed their acts, they called one of the men who had walked ahead of them for assistance. The man later arrived at the scene and the 21-year-old and 20-year-old left for home. The girl then told the man that she had been raped.

After an exchange, the 20-year-old was called back, and the victim confronted and slapped him. The 20-year-old attempted to retaliate but was talked out of it. He later revealed that the 21-year-old had raped her but denied doing the acts himself.

Police officers on patrol came across the group and approached them as the girl was crying. While the girl did not immediately tell police officers what had happened, she later called the police again as she was angry that the 20-year-old continued to deny his offences.

She provided a full account of what happened when she was taken back to the police station. Both the 20-year-old and 21-year-old were arrested later that day.

The man’s sentencing has been adjourned to 2 December.





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