Religious Influencer Jailed Nearly 28 Years, Given 24 Strokes for Sexually Abusing Boys Aged 8 and 11, Including in a Mosque

A 37-year-old Singaporean man described as a "religious influencer" was sentenced on Monday (Aug 17) to 27 years and 10 months' jail and 24 strokes of the cane for sexually abusing two young brothers.

The man, who cannot be named due to a gag order, pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and two counts of molestation, with another 12 charges taken into consideration.

He raped the younger boy at least 10 times between 2022 and 2023, when the child was aged six to eight, and molested his older brother, who was 11 to 12.

The brothers met him at a mosque in April 2022 after the older boy recognised him from TikTok, where he posted mainly about Islam.

With their parents largely absent, the man grew close to the brothers and became a father figure to them.

Some of the abuse happened on mosque premises.

On one occasion, he conducted a religious class before asking the brothers to stay behind and taking the younger boy into a mosque toilet, where he raped him.

The abuse left both boys severely traumatised and suicidal, and affected their once-close relationship.

The court also heard that the man had molested a 17-year-old boy in 2021 who regarded him as a religious mentor.

He was arrested and released on police bail that December, before going on to abuse the two brothers.

MUIS said the man was not an accredited religious teacher, mosque staff member or volunteer.

It condemned the offences and said mosque security would be strengthened through measures including patrols and CCTV monitoring.

High Court judge Kwek Mean Luck described the offences as "utterly abhorrent and heinous"