Question:
Mr Pritam Singh: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs how many individuals above the age of 50 have been sentenced for serious sexual offences against young persons compared to those under the age of 50 over the last five, 10 and 15 years respectively; (b) whether there is a trend of more individuals in their late 40s and above the age of 50 committing serious sexual offences against young persons, including family members and relatives; and (c) if so, whether the reasons behind this increase has been studied.
Answer:
Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law:
1. The data for the periods of time which the Member has requested is not readily available.
2. Based on available data from January 2020 to July 2022, there were 12 male offenders above 50 years old at the time of sentencing who were convicted in the State Courts of serious sexual offences which attracted the punishment of caning, such as rape, sexual assault, and sexual penetration of minors. In comparison, there were 86 male offenders aged 50 or younger at the time of sentencing who were convicted of such offences in the State Courts during the same period.
3. From January 2020 to December 2022, there were 29 male offenders above 50 years old at the time of sentencing who were convicted in the High Court of serious sexual offences which attracted caning, such as rape, sexual assault, and sexual penetration of minors. In comparison, there were 100 male offenders aged 50 or younger at the time of sentencing who were convicted of such offences in the High Court during the same period.
4. On whether there is a trend of more individuals in their late 40s and above the age of 50 committing serious sexual offences against young persons, based on available Police arrest data from January 2020 to November 2022 of the number of persons above the age of 45 at the time of offence, there appears to be no increasing trend: 18 persons in 2020, 15 persons in 2021, and 17 persons in 2022.
