Singapore jails Indian tourist for molesting 12-year-old girl

Pramender, 25, who entered Singapore on a tourist visa, pleaded guilty on Friday to one count of attempting to procure an indecent act from a child and one count of molesting a child under the age of 14, according to Channel News Asia.

The incident occurred on March 31 at the Jalan Besar swimming complex where the girl had been swimming with her cousins.

Authorities said Pramender followed her to the toilet area, gave her a side hug, causing the towel she was wearing to slip from her shoulder and made physical contact with her, The Straits Times reported.

Despite the girl's visible discomfort, Pramender asked her to enter the female toilet with him and attempted to pull her inside.

She resisted and managed to get away.

Pramender then took the girl's phone, accessed her Instagram account, and used it to follow his own account. He later sent her 13 inappropriate messages via the platform.

The girl reported the incident to a lifeguard.

The victim's mother later complained to police, following which Pramender was arrested on April 2.

Under Singapore law, attempting to procure an indecent act from a child under 16 is punishable by up to seven years in prison, a fine of up to S$10,000 (US$7,700), or both.

Molesting a child under 14 carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment, a fine, caning, or any combination of these.

Last week, a 20-year-old Indian man was sentenced to three weeks in prison for molesting a flight attendant on a Singapore Airlines flight.