Former Singapore teacher faces 26 charges over alleged sex offences against underage boy

A 40-year-old former teacher in Singapore has been charged with 26 offences, including sexual grooming, sexual penetration of a minor, and obstruction of justice, after allegedly engaging in repeated sexual acts with at least one underage boy across multiple occasions in 2023.

The woman, who cannot be named due to a gag order, pleaded not guilty at a mention hearing at the State Courts on 2 March 2025. The gag order also prohibits publication of details that could identify any victim, the locations of the alleged incidents, or a particular school linked to the case.

Her case carries a High Court case number, CNA reported, indicating it may eventually be heard there, where heavier penalties can be imposed.

The charges

The woman faces a total of 26 charges, comprising sexual grooming, procuring an obscene act from a young person, sexual penetration of a minor, and one count of obstructing the course of justice.

Each sex-related charge is said to involve a male victim who was below 16 years of age at the time of the alleged offences.

Because all identifying information relating to any victim has been redacted from court documents, it cannot be determined at this stage whether the alleged acts involved one victim or multiple victims.

Court documents also did not disclose how the woman came to know the alleged victim or victims.

Alleged acts between March and September 2023

Between March and September 2023, the woman allegedly asked a male victim aged below 16 to send her naked photographs of himself. The boy is alleged to have complied.

During the same period, she allegedly initiated a video call with a male minor while both were bathing in separate locations, reportedly so that she could observe him.

In early March 2023, the woman is accused of having sexual intercourse with a male victim aged below 16 inside a parked car at a location redacted from court documents.

She allegedly repeated the offence on 14 April 2023 at a separate location, and again on 20 June 2023. The 20 June incident also forms the basis of a sexual grooming charge, under which she is accused of intentionally meeting the minor with the intention of committing sexual penetration.

CNA reported that on 23 June 2023, between approximately 2.30pm and 4.40pm, she allegedly had sexual intercourse with a male victim aged below 16 at a redacted location.

Further alleged incidents occurred on 4 July 2023 between approximately 7.20am and 7.50am inside a parked car, and again on 26 July 2023 between approximately 5.45pm and 7.35pm, also in a parked car.

The following day, 27 July 2023, another alleged session is said to have taken place between approximately 7.05pm and 8.10pm, inside a parked car.

On 31 July 2023, the woman allegedly committed a further offence inside a parked car between approximately 5.30pm and 7.25pm.

The next day, 1 August 2023, she allegedly had sexual intercourse with a male victim aged below 16 at a separate redacted location between 10am and 10.25am.

On 4 August 2023, a further alleged incident took place inside a parked car between approximately 2.45pm and 5.40pm.

On 13 September 2023, she allegedly repeated the offence in a parked car between approximately 5.45pm and 6.10pm. Two days later, she allegedly committed the same offence in a parked car between approximately 3.15pm and 6.00pm.

Obstruction of justice

The final charge accuses the woman of obstructing justice by deleting text messages between herself and a victim between 25 and 26 October 2024. Details about the nature of those messages were not disclosed in court documents.

Ministry of Education response

The Ministry of Education (MOE) confirmed, in response to media queries on 3 March 2025, that the woman was suspended from duty in November 2023 and has since been dismissed from service.

An MOE spokesperson stated that the ministry takes a serious view of staff misconduct and will not hesitate to take disciplinary action, including dismissal, against those who fail to adhere to its standards of conduct and discipline.

Legal proceedings and potential penalties

The Straits Times reported that the woman is represented by Kalidass Murugaiyan and Kanthan Raghavendra of Kalidass Law Corporation. She is currently on bail of S$80,000, according to CNA.

A criminal case disclosure conference, at which both the defence and the prosecution exchange information to facilitate the trial process, has been scheduled for April.

If convicted of causing a minor to commit an act of sexual penetration, the woman faces up to 20 years' imprisonment and a fine for each charge. She cannot be caned, as caning is not applicable to women under Singapore law.

A conviction for sexual grooming carries a maximum sentence of three years' imprisonment, a fine, or both. A conviction for obstruction of justice carries a maximum of seven years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.