Man jailed for committing obscene acts on 13-year-old special needs girl

Quek Yah Chiang, 66, was sentenced to 21 months' jail for committing an obscene act and molesting a 13-year-old girl. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW 
Quek Yah Chiang, 66, was sentenced to 21 months' jail for committing an obscene act and molesting a 13-year-old girl. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW 

SINGAPORE - Posing as a teacher, Quek Yah Chiang befriended a special needs student as she waited for the train after school and brought her to a secluded staircase landing near Paya Lebar MRT station.

After performing obscene acts on the 13-year-old there and leading her back to the station, he made her promise not to tell anyone and left after giving her $4 for food.

On Friday, Quek, 66, who has a history of sexual offences against youngsters dating back to 1985, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for three crimes committed on May 2, 2012.

The court heard that around 4pm that day, the then-manager at a maid agency had led his victim to the second basement level of Singapore Post Centre, next to Paya Lebar MRT. The girl, who has moderate mental retardation, remained still in fear as he committed the obscene acts.

Quek made her "pinkie promise" to keep quiet about what had happened, but she told her family after reaching home and a police report was lodged later that day.

Quek had previous convictions for committing acts of gross indecency with other males. These were done on three boys aged 17, 16 and 11 between 1985 and 1996.

Now unemployed, he could have been jailed for up to five years and fined up to $10,000 on each of three counts of committing an obscene act with a child.

pohian@sph.com.sg

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.