BY VICTORIA BARKER

HE WAS an Internet predator who lured young girls into meeting him by using money as bait. Then, he would rape them or film them in compromising positions.

He claimed several victims - the youngest was just 13 years old - before he was arrested in 2002. The 33-year-old is now serving a 23-year sentence in Changi Prison.

His story is one of 12 real-life tales of convicted offenders in a new book commissioned by the Singapore Prison Service (SPS), entitled Criminal Intent.

Written by veteran journalist Wong Kim Hoh of The Straits Times, the book offers insights into the minds of these criminals so as to provide life lessons to readers.

SPS' senior assistant director of public affairs, Mr Matthew Wee, said in a statement: 'Through these accounts, in which we see the destruction that crime brings, we want to send a strong reminder that crime doesn't pay.'

The interviews took place in visitor rooms at various prisons between December last year and May this year. Each lasted at least three hours.

Mr Wong said: 'Some were a bit taciturn at the beginning, but once they warmed up and saw that I was not being judgmental, they became quite candid.

'I've learnt that humanity and human nature are very complex. Why did these people turn to crime? It would be very easy to blame their environment or upbringing, but it is not always so clear-cut.'

Criminal Intent is available at $14 (before GST) at all major bookstores.

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