A Shocking Turn‑of‑Events: The Man Who Tried to Force a Marriage Gets 10½ Years Behind Bars
In a case that reads like the climax of a bad romantic novel, a Singaporean driver was handed a hefty prison term and heading strokes for a crime that was all too real: rape. The man, who had a 10‑year fling with his former girlfriend, was convicted after trying to make her suffer an “unwanted pregnancy” so that she’d have no choice but to marry him.
The Court’s Verdict
High Court Judge Philip Jeyaretnam delivered a clear message: the victim’s trauma wasn’t a footnote, it was the headline. He declared the perpetrator’s attempt to “impregnate” the woman—essentially a sinister plot to coerce marriage—an aggravated form of sexual assault.
Even though the victim, who was 24 at the time, shared a stream of Facebook posts that hinted at forgiveness, the judge ruled that apology isn’t a shield against the horrors inflicted by the assailant.
Sentencing Details
- 10½ years’ imprisonment
- Six strokes of the cane
- Three‑year reduction for an early guilty plea and confession
Prosecutors had eyed a minimum of 13 years plus 12 cane strokes, while the defence wanted a lighter dose. The judge branded the sentencing discount earned by “speaking up” a real‑life “good‑deed” bonus.
He also dropped the classic “no, you can’t change” line and said, “It’s not too late for you to become a better person.”
The Backstory
Speedy dates turned to heartbreak. The couple met in school in 2009, entering a relationship when he was 16 and she was 14. She underwent two abortions while they were together.
On Feb 11, 2019, after discovering he’d been cheating, she split. He tried to win her back on Feb 27, 2019—miserably, by luring her onto his motorcycle and threatening her with a knife, then forcing her to mimic sex for “a possible pregnancy.” She called her boyfriend and best friend, and the police arrived that very day.
Of note: the accused, 26 at the time, works as a driver. The victim’s identity is shielded by a gag order, so her name stays off the headlines.
Additional Charges
- One more count of rape
- One count of aggravated sexual assault by penetration
- One count of criminal intimidation
- One count of causing hurt
- One count of mischief
After all the drama, the judge’s final wish? A chance for the defendant to re‑write his story—one that hopefully involves less violence and more life lessons.
— Published originally by The Straits Times (reproduction requires permission.)
