Missing Innocence: A Stepdad’s Dark Tale
In a shocking testament to how far a family’s trust can be abused, a 45‑year‑old Singaporean has been handed a 7½‑year jail term for a series of heinous acts that started when his stepdaughter was a mere 12‑year‑old. The horror only intensified as the girl crossed adolescence.
The Early Years
The man, having married into the family when the girl was just three, rapidly became the sole father‑figure in her life. The first creep, a touch that barely resembled an “adult” kiss, occurred in 2006 when “only” thirteen-year‑old Misra was stranded alone at home. Even at that age, his advances were not about consent but about domination.
“Gone Too Long” – A 7‑Year Nightmare
From 2006 to 2013, the abuse escalated: forced oral sex at 15, a medical history of abuse that some would call “playing God.” In 2014, Misra bravely told her mother, brother, grandparents, and aunty what the stepdad had done, only to be hit and kicked when she dared no longer to comply.
- May 2014 – A secluded lift lobby showdown, where the stepdad brought a “performance” to the table, then used a shoe after the girl said no.
- June 2014 – The girl filed a police report at Toa Payoh Neighbourhood Police Centre after being secretly taunted at the void deck by a “beer‑drunk” intruder.
The Verdict
District Judge Marvin Bay, after a stern yet empathetic review, pronounced that “stress is not a defense” when you choose to wield it against your own family. He called the stepdad’s actions “perverse whims” that robbed a young girl of both her innocence and her emotional health.
Tribunal documents reveal1 the victim suffered: disassociation, sleeplessness, vivid haunting memories, and an ominous fear of the perpetrator.
Where We Are Now
The man’s sentence: 7½ years for sexually exploiting a child, a minor sexual penetration charge, and voluntary harm. The verdict underscores that no matter how desperate the situation might feel, it does not justify abusing a child. Instead, it calls for stronger safeguards for those who might feel like the only “family” a victim has.
First published by The Straits Times. No permission for replication. “child abuse”
