First man to escape jail for underage paid sex

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A MAN who admitted paying for sex with an underage girl has become the first person to be given probation for the offence - with a judge telling him he has a "good future" and to spend his time "wisely".

At his sentencing yesterday, the prosecution did not object to 22-year-old Yap Jun Hao being placed on probation in view of the "exceptional circumstances" - namely, his young age at the time, a favourable probation report and the findings of an Institute of Mental Health psychiatrist.

The court heard Yap was traumatised over the death of his elder brother, who committed suicide in 2006. They had been very close and he was the last person to speak to him before his death.

The psychiatric report stated that he often cried at night and even had imaginary conversations with the brother.

Yap was a full-time national serviceman at Changi Naval Base in May last year when a 17-year-old Chinese girl approached him along Lorong 22 Geylang and offered him sex for $60.

He agreed and took the girl, from Shandong, to a nearby lodging house run as an illegal brothel. Although she told him she was 19, he took no steps to verify this. They showered together before she performed fellatio on him and they had sex.

Since his polytechnic days, he had been visiting Geylang to look for prostitutes when he felt lonely, the court heard. The maximum penalty for commercial sex with a person under 18 years of age is seven years' jail and a fine.

Yap was placed on 18 months' supervised probation by District Judge Low Wee Ping, who accepted the probation officer's assessment. His parents signed a bond of $2,000 each to ensure his good behaviour.

"This court understands and sympathises with you, Mr Yap, what you have gone through, and wishes you well," said the judge.

"You have a good future in front of you, so seize it and don't be distracted by committing this sort of offence. Spend your time wisely, usefully and meaningfully."

Deputy Public Prosecutor Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz told the judge that no other person charged with similar offences had been granted probation before.

But she added: "Such a sentence should not be setting a precedent for future cases.

"Given the gravity and nature of the offence, the prosecution's position has been and continues to be (that) a custodial sentence is warranted if an accused engages in commercial sex with a minor."

Yap was represented by Mr R. Thrumurgan. Further cases involving the Chinese girl are set to come before the court.


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