Corrective training for sex offender

He has been fined, jailed, caned and in corrective training for past sexual offences.

Yesterday, Seyad Sulaiman Maideen Pillai, 45, was sentenced to corrective training again, after he molested a boy in a restroom at Kovan Market in February.

The court heard that Seyad Sulaiman, who has been diagnosed with paedophilia, has mild retardation.

Corrective training is a prison regime for repeat offenders, with no remission for good behaviour.

Seyad Sulaiman was first convicted of molestation in 1986 and fined $500.

In 1995, he was jailed for six months and given threestrokes of the cane for two counts of outrage of modesty.

But shortly after his release, Seyad Sulaiman re-offended yet again.

He later pleaded guilty to seven out of 34 charges of sex offences and, in 1999, was sentenced to five years' corrective training with six strokes of the cane.

Six years

Yesterday, he was sentenced to six years' corrective training.

Corrective training can last between five and 14 years. On top of tough physical training, inmates also learn work skills to make them employable when they complete their sentences.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Kumaresan Gohulabalan said that Seyad Sulaiman had been working as a cleaner in the area when the victim and his family went to Kovan Market Hawker Centre at Block 206, Hougang Street 21, on the evening of Feb 1.

The boy went to a restroom for the handicapped located within the eatery to relieve himself.

At around 7pm, Seyad Sulaiman followed the boy inside, locked the door and molested him.

The boy ran out when Seyad Sulaiman opened the door after committing the offence.

The boy told his father about his ordeal and the police were alerted and arrested Seyad Sulaiman.

This article was first published in The New Paper.