SINGAPORE: After befriending a 12-year-old and smoking with him, a man in his 60s asked the boy to let him take photographs of his genitals in exchange for a cigarette.

The boy agreed. This escalated into the man asking to fellate the boy in exchange for similar gifts, which became a regular affair.

Over a period of about three years, the man and the boy engaged in such sexual acts at least eight times.

Abdul Rahim Sa’ad, now 66, was sentenced to 12 years and 11 months’ jail on Friday (Jul 17), after pleading guilty to two charges of causing the victim to perform a sexual act on him while the victim was below the age of 14. 

The total sentence included four months’ imprisonment in lieu of caning. The man cannot be caned due to his age as he is above 50.

Another 14 charges were taken into consideration. A gag order has been imposed to protect the victim’s identity. 

WHAT HAPPENED

At the time of the offences, Abdul visited his sister’s residence regularly. The location was redacted from court documents.

Sometime in April 2020, Abdul and the victim became acquainted after the older man struck up a conversation with the victim who had passed by the flat on his way to visit a friend.

The pair also smoked cigarettes on occasion.

On Apr 29, 2020, the victim visited Abdul and asked for a cigarette. Abdul told the boy to show him his underwear and genitals and to let him take photos. The boy agreed and received cash and a cigarette afterwards.

The boy started occasionally requesting for cigarettes and cash from Abdul which the older man gave in exchange for sexual activities.

Between Apr 30, 2020 and Aug 4, 2020, Abdul asked to fellate the boy in exchange for giving him cigarettes. The victim suggested going to a handicapped toilet at a community centre where Abdul performed the act on the boy.

It lasted for about 10 minutes, after which Abdul bought a pack of cigarettes for the victim.

A similar incident took place sometime between Aug 5, 2020 and Dec 31, 2020 at the same handicapped toilet when the victim asked for cigarettes and cash. The victim had turned 13 then, according to charge sheets.

The court heard that Abdul and the victim engaged in similar sexual acts on at least eight occasions between 2021 and 2023.

On Jan 4, 2024, the police arrested Abdul after his niece lodged a report alleging that the accused was procuring sexual servic...