Ex-department head of primary school in Singapore faces voyeurism charges

On October 12, a 45-year-old individual with a former role as a department head at a primary school in Singapore has been charged with voyeurism. According to CNA, the individual is accused of recording private parts of a female student in a 2023 incident. The Ministry of Education confirmed the employee's current non-employment status and his suspension in June.

The accused has expressed his intention to plead guilty, with a court appearance planned for the following month. Potential penalties for a guilty verdict include imprisonment for up to two years, corporal punishment, a fine, or a combination thereof. The victim's identity remains protected, with no further details about the school or the girl's educational background disclosed.

The Ministry of Education emphasized the gravity of staff misconduct, vowing to enforce disciplinary measures against violators, including dismissal from service. Over the past year, multiple cases of children being abused or molested by authority figures have surfaced. In August, former Member of Parliament Amrin Amin criticized the molestation of two boys by a religious mentor, describing it as "horrifying," emphasizing that religion should ensure safety for children.

Last month, former President Halimah Yacob questioned how a man with a decade-long history of sexual offenses could work with children, calling for stricter laws to safeguard vulnerable youth.