Indian National Gets 14 Years for Sexually Assaulting Minor in Singapore

A Singapore court has sentenced Indian national Ramalingam Selvasekaran, 58, to more than 14 years in prison for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl at his Jurong West provision shop. The ruling, handed down July 30, 2025, follows a high profile trial that gripped Singapore and drew outrage from both local and international observers.

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Thinkbrief

8/3/20251 min read

The assault took place on October 28, 2021, when the minor first visited Ramalingam’s store and later returned to buy ice cream. Prosecutors described how Ramalingam lured the girl to a back area, where he forced her to perform oral sex. After the attack, the child managed to seek help from a passerby, who immediately notified authorities.

Justice Aidan Xu, delivering the sentence of 14 years, three months, and two weeks, also explained that caning was not imposed due to Ramalingam’s age. The judge found the victim’s testimony credible and dismissed the defense’s arguments, including claims of erectile dysfunction and lack of DNA evidence, as insufficient to undermine the girl’s account. The court noted Ramalingam’s initial statements to police included admissions to molestation and oral sex. He later retracted them and pleaded innocence.

Ramalingam represented himself through much of the proceedings and has indicated plans to appeal. He was granted bail set at S$80,000 but failed in attempts to relax conditions such as electronic tagging and regular police check-ins.

This case has reignited debate in Singapore about child safety and prompted calls for stricter safeguards against sexual assault. The victim’s resilience and swift action by bystanders have been widely commended, underscoring the critical importance of immediate community intervention.