Officials heard how the 38-year-old allegedly raped and sexually exploited the young girl over the period of two years.

19:03, Mon, Aug 3, 2026 Updated: 19:13, Mon, Aug 3, 2026

Police car in Singapore

The 38-year-old was sentenced to 21 years in jail (Image: Getty)

A 38-year-old man raped and sexually exploited his 13-year-old niece. The man, whose identity has not been reported to protect the purported victim's anonymity, pleaded guilty to six charges that included statutory rape and sexual assault. Officials heard that the man had sexually assaulted his brother's daughter for nearly two years. He was sentenced to 21 years in jail and 16 strokes of the cane in Singapore on Monday, August 3.

The abuse is said to have started when the victim was 13, after her uncle took her out to celebrate her birthday with a motorcycle ride. After letting her uncle know she enjoyed the birthday outing, he took her out to eat several days later.

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The victim spotted her ex-boyfriend and informed her uncle that he had touched her sexually, the authorities heard.

After the pair grew closer, the 38-year-old allegedly molested the teenager, asking if that was what her ex-boyfriend did, and according to Channel News Asia, from October 2022, the pair considered themselves a couple, exchanging romantic messages and engaging in sexual acts.

The perpetrator, who lived with his grandmother until she died, would purportedly give the young girl alcohol while raping her. During a school holiday, the teen got permission from her parents to sleep over at her uncle's house.

The grandmother died at the same time, and so the pair were alone in the house together, where they proceeded to engage in sexual acts regularly, officials heard.

In 2023, the victim also received permission to go on a staycation with her uncle. He brought along with him alcohol and toys, and they had sex at a hotel, it is believed.

The following year, the teenager started dating a schoolmate and reduced her visits to her uncle. Following his suspicions, he allegedly blackmailed his niece, threatening that she must continue engaging in sexual acts with him if she wanted to remain with her boyfriend.

He also purportedly threatened to leak nude photographs and videos of the teenage girl if she did not break up with her boyfriend. The 38-year-old allegedly said he would publish them on a pornographic website, send them to her friend, and post them on the social media platform Telegram.

The victim attempted to end things with her uncle eight times. However, he would reportedly guilt-trip her, saying that he was depressed and wanted to end his life.

On August 6, 2024, the girl told a teacher about what her uncle had allegedly been doing to her. The matter was taken to Child Protection Services under the Ministry of Social and Family Development, and a police report was filed.

The man was arrested the following day.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Chin Jincheng said that the uncle had violated the trust of the teenager's parents, robbed his niece of her innocence, and abused his position of authority over her.

He added that the 38-year-old emotionally manipulated the victim by refusing to let her end the "perverse relationship".