A 20-year-old man in Singapore, Kieron Ng Kay Lin, pleaded guilty on 19 September to molesting an 11-year-old girl in August 2023. Ng lured the girl by pretending to need help with a school project, then took her to a staircase landing where he stroked her legs from calf to thigh. Ng has also allegedly committed offences against three other girls under 14 between May 2023 and January 2024. The victims’ identities are protected by a gag order.
## Background
On 18 August 2023, around 3 pm, Ng approached the 11-year-old girl at a bus stop, claiming he needed assistance with a school project. The girl agreed, and Ng led her to a staircase landing at an undisclosed location. There, he scattered pieces of white paper on the floor and asked the girl to play a “giant game,” pretending she was a giant moving through cities represented by the paper pieces. At 3:28 pm, Ng instructed the girl to sit on the staircase and continued the game, during which he began stroking her legs. The girl, feeling uncomfortable, eventually told Ng she needed to go home to do her homework. She later reported the incident to her mother, who lodged a police report. Ng was arrested the same day and charged in court on 19 August 2023.
## Has “anime schoolgirl with uniform” fetish, aroused by “straight and thin” legs
Following his arrest, Ng was remanded for psychiatric observation at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) from 19 August to 28 September 2023. He admitted to repeatedly viewing “soft pornography” involving “giant anime girls” in uniform, which sexually aroused him. Ng also confessed to being particularly aroused by “straight and thin” legs. Diagnosed with mild autism spectrum disorder, Ng avoided older girls, finding them more “threatening and daunting.” He admitted to stroking the legs of other girls after playing the “giant game.” According to an IMH report, Ng had been touching girls’ legs since 2021, with the number of victims in the “two digits but below 60.”
## Repeated offences
Deputy Public Prosecutor Andre Chong described Ng’s offences as “premeditated,” noting that Ng “systematically” and “intentionally” targeted underage girls. Despite being on bail, Ng re-offended thrice. On 25 January 2024, while on bail, he allegedly acted threateningly towards a 12-year-old girl, asking her to key in her Instagram handle on his phone at a staircase landing. In May and July 2023, Ng allegedly molested a 12-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl by touching their ankle and shins, respectively. The court heard that Ng’s father had repeatedly warned him to stop playing the “giant game” to avoid trouble, but his advice was ignored. The case has been adjourned to November 2024.
## Future implications
The case highlights the need for increased awareness and preventive measures against sexual offences involving minors. Authorities may consider reviewing current policies and implementing stricter monitoring for individuals with similar behavioural patterns. The community is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to protect vulnerable individuals from potential harm.
