Guess the race? - First man to be charged under Prevention of Human Trafficking Act

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

A 24-year-old man who allegedly had sex with a 15-year-old has become the first to be charged under the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act, which took effect on March 1. Muhammad Khairulanwar Rohmat, who was charged in court today (April 23), is accused of recruiting a child for exploitation.

He was also charged with having sex with a minor.

The court heard that he had allegedly recruited the 15-year-old girl at a Starbucks Coffee outlet in Orchard between 3.30pm and 5.30pm on April 15 for the purpose of exploitation.

The girl cannot be named because of a gag order, and prosecutors did not reveal what the alleged exploitation entailed.

Under the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act, the definition of exploitation includes sexual exploitation, forced labour and slavery.

Between 4.30pm and 4.45pm that afternoon, Khairulanwar is said to have had sex with the girl, with her consent, in the men’s toilet at the fifth level of Cuppage Plaza. It was not revealed what led to his arrest.

The Prevention of Human Trafficking Act was passed in Parliament on Nov 3 last year. It spells out how trafficking in persons is defined, penalties for those who break the law, powers for enforcement agencies as well as support for victims. The Act defines a child as a person under 18 years old.

Any individual who recruits, transfers or receives a child for the purpose of exploiting the child, whether in Singapore or elsewhere, is guilty of an offence. The child’s consent to the alleged exploitation is irrelevant in determining whether an offence has been committed.

If convicted of recruiting a child for the purposes of exploitation, Khairulanwar could be fined up to S$100,000, jailed up to 10 years or both. He could also receive up to six strokes of the cane. If convicted of having sex with a minor, he could be jailed up to 10 years or fined, or both.

Dressed in a black shirt, Khairulanwar was calm as the charges were read to him. He has been remanded for further investigation, and his case will be mentioned again on April 29.


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