By Khushwant Singh
A STOREKEEPER, 25, who repeatedly propositioned two secondary school students for sex, has become the first person to be jailed for sexual grooming.
Loh Kuat Fung was jailed a year on Friday on each charge but the sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
However, the Malaysian was jailed an additional six months for allowing one of the girls, then aged 15, to consume alcohol in a hotel room he had rented after they got to know each other in 2008.
The other girl was only 13 when Loh tried to hit on her.
Calling the offences 'very serious' as his victims were 'very vulnerable', District Judge Sarjit Singh ordered the 18-month jail term to start immediately.
For sexual grooming, Loh could be jailed for up to three years and/or fined up to $10,000.
The law, which took effect in February 2008, makes it an offence for a person above the age of 21 to 'intentionally meet or travel to meet a minor with the intention of committing a sexual offence with the minor'.
A district court heard that the storekeeper first got to know the older girl through social networking website Friendster in 2008. Harassed by persistent requests for sex, the teenager introduced a 13-year-old friend to Loh so that he would leave her alone in September that year.