SINGAPORE: Former primary school teacher Chock Soon
Seng, who had been jailed 10 months for trying to get two boys to
masturbate in front of him, had his appeal rejected on Monday by
the High Court.
Chock's lawyer, Mr Anthony Lim, argued on Monday
that Chock was a first-time offender and had showed remorse for his
actions.
The 34-year-old had turned up to apologise to one of
the boys and his parents within hours of being discovered by the
disciplinary master and had resigned.
The lawyer said Chock's sentence was manifestly excessive and the
former teacher did not have physical contact with the boy.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Kan Shuk Weng countered that the fact that
Chock was a teacher could not be ignored.
Justice Tay Yong Kwang said on Monday he did not find Chock's
sentence manifestly excessive and dismissed the appeal.
In May 2009, Chock got to know a Secondary One student over the
Internet and exchanged phone numbers with him.
The next day, he got the boy to text him the telephone numbers of
two friends.
Chock then texted one of the boys' friends to invite him to come
and watch obscene films together, and tried to get one of the boys
to masturbate in front of him.
- CNA/cc