Ex-President Halimah asks hard question about predators working with children in Singapore

In a recent social media post, former President Halimah Yacob questioned how a serial sexual predator with a history of offenses could be allowed to work with vulnerable children. The man, now 71 years old and sentenced to 21 years in jail for sexually abusing 11 children over three decades, had previously abused his own daughter, two granddaughters, and four nieces.

Four other victims had been children attending an enrichment center run by the man's family. Halimah noted that the perpetrator had already been convicted in 1990 and 2020 for similar offenses. She highlighted the need for laws to prevent such incidents and suggested the possibility of a sex offender registry to help parents ensure their children's safety.

Halimah also mentioned a previous case in 2020 where a man convicted of sexually abusing three children at a play school his wife managed. She emphasized that this is not the first time such incidents have occurred and that steps must be taken to prevent repeat offenses. In response to recent concerns about better protection for minors from sexual predators, Workers' Party Members of Parliament filed questions regarding statutory penalties for major sexual offences against minors and the consideration of chemical castration and a sex offender registry as additional deterrence measures.

Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam stated that the government is open to considering chemical castration but acknowledged that evidence of its effectiveness in reducing crime rates is inconclusive. Shanmugam also explained that the Police maintain a non-public record of convicted offenders, including sexual offenses, which is used to screen individuals applying for roles involving children and young persons.