Singapore Man, 68, Sentenced to Eight Months for Molesting 10-Year-Old Neighbor

Sim Kian Hong followed a 10-year-old girl home after crossing paths with her when she was on her way home

Sim Kian Hong, a 68-year-old Singaporean man, was sentenced to eight months in prison on Wednesday, June 19, after pleading guilty to molesting a girl under 14 years of age.

The incident occurred in May 2023 when Sim molested his 10-year-old neighbor. The victim's identity remains protected under a court order.

According to court documents, the victim was returning home from a nearby supermarket around 4 p.m. on May 8, 2023. She paused along the pavement to catch her breath when Sim, who lived in the same housing block, approached her. He offered to help carry her groceries, but she declined.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Andrea Gan detailed that Sim walked ahead but matched his pace with the girl. When they reached their housing block and entered the lift, Sim stood slightly behind her. The victim used her phone to avoid conversation.

A stock photo of a lift at a housing block in Singapore.

Sim then placed his hand near the girl's shoulder and leaned in close to her face. After briefly standing upright, he touched her chest over her clothes for about 14 seconds. The frightened victim exited the lift quickly upon reaching her floor and reported the incident to the police the next day.

DPP Gan requested an 8.5-month jail term, citing Sim's "predatory behavior" and the additional trauma caused by the fact that the molestation occurred in the victim's own building. "The victim may be forced to relive her trauma constantly," Gan noted.

Molesting a person under 14 can result in up to five years in jail, a fine, or caning. However, since Sim is over 50, he is exempt from caning.