A 17‑Year‑Old’s Nightmare: A 23‑Year‑Old Faces a 7‑Year Prison Term
Singapore’s courts delivered a stern verdict after a shocking series of sexual offenses involving minors. Ammar Bakhtiar Md Ali, now 23, was handed a hefty sentence: 6 years and 10 months behind bars, plus three鞭 strokes.
What Went Down
- Ammar had already been under investigation for two separate offenses involving children.
- He lured a 17‑year‑old girl into his home, where he violated her without consent.
- He also pleaded guilty to a prior incident with a 12‑year‑old, who he had met back in 2016.
The 12‑Year‑Old Incident
Back in 2016, the young girl was invited to Ammar’s Jurong West flat to play games on his Xbox. Reality soon turned grim: they ended up in an unprotected sexual encounter in his bedroom. She reported this to a counsellor in February 2017, which prompted police involvement.
The 17‑Year‑Old Encounter
Fast forward to 2018—Ammar sent a flurry of messages to the 17‑year‑old, pushing for an in‑person meeting. He falsely claimed that a friend and the friend’s girlfriend would be present, trying to make the scene feel “normal.” The girl, hesitant because of the friend’s partner, finally met Ammar near Pioneer Mall at 12:20 am.
They ended up at his house, where Ammar and his friend played on a PlayStation in a bedroom. When the friend left, Ammar tried to coerce the girl into sex. She declined, but he persisted anyway—he sexually penetrated her without consent and only stopped when she shoved him away. Afterwards, he drove her out of the house.
The Court’s Verdict
The Deputy Public Prosecutor, Claire Poh, stressed that Ammar’s plan was to “satisfy his lust” by exploiting the girl’s naivety. During sentencing, five additional charges—linked to other victims—were also considered, though those names remain protected by a gag order. The jury acknowledged the severity of his actions and the trust the victims had placed in him.
Looking Forward
With Ammar now serving his sentence, the hope is that a clearer message is sent: no one—especially minors—merits being taken advantage of. The justice system remains vigilant, and stories like this remind us why that vigilance is crucial.
This piece originally came from The Straits Times. Permission is required for reproduction.
