A YOUNG woman accused of incest was granted a discharge not
amounting to an acquittal on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old technical executive is believed to be the first
woman to have been charged with allowing her 46-year-old father to
have sex with her willingly in the master bedroom of their flat in
Serangoon at about 11.30pm in April 2008.
The father, a freelance plumber, was to have been charged that
day as well but did not show up. The court has issued a warrant for
his arrest. He is still at large and police investigations are
still on-going.
The woman's lawyer, Mr SS Dhillon, told Community Court judge Ng
Peng Hong that his representations had been successful.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Davyd Chong applied for the order. No
reason was given in court.
Under the law, any woman 16 years and above who 'with consent,
permits her grandfather, father, brother, half-brother, son or
grandson (whether such relationship is or is not traced through
lawful wedlock)' to have sex with her is guilty of incest.
The maximum penalty for the offence is up to five years'
jail.
-- ST