2025-07-03T04:01:39Z

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SINGAPORE – In a disturbing case that highlights the vulnerabilities of young individuals online, a 33-year-old Singaporean man, Muhammad Ruzaini Hassan, has been sentenced to three years and ten weeks in prison and ordered to receive three strokes of the cane. His conviction stems from a series of heinous acts involving the exploitation of a 17-year-old girl who he coerced into sending him sexually explicit videos.

The saga began when Ruzaini came across a sexually explicit video of the teenager that had been shared on a messaging platform. Not only did he discover this video, but he also learned that the girl had a history of suicidal tendencies, a fact that he later weaponized against her. Offering to be her "sugar daddy," he proposed a monthly payment of $1,500, a move that laid the groundwork for a manipulative relationship rooted in exploitation.

Despite being fully aware of her fragile mental state, Ruzaini escalated the situation by extorting her for further explicit content. He threatened to report her for alleged drug abuse, leveraging her vulnerabilities to extract compliance. He also threatened to publish her videos on a pornographic website, instilling fear in the already troubled teen.

According to court documents, the girl's personal details and explicit videos had been leaked online around April 2022. Ruzaini, who had joined a Telegram group dedicated to sharing obscene content, stumbled upon her video and took it upon himself to contact her without verifying her age. His initial proposal included a $1,500 monthly allowance and an additional one-time sum of $1,500 for engaging in unprotected sex and spending a day with him.

The teenager, caught in a web of manipulation, met Ruzaini several times over the course of their interactions. On one occasion, the two met at a hotel in Jalan Besar, where he paid her $800 for sexual acts. During their encounters, the girl confided in Ruzaini about her drug use, which he later exploited as a point of leverage in his extortion attempts.

On May 21, 2022, Ruzaini attempted to obtain explicit videos from her through a different Telegram account, without revealing his identity. When she refused his request, he intensified his threats, stating that he had incriminating evidence of her drug activities, including a video of her allegedly smoking Ice, a form of crystal methamphetamine. He even accurately identified her as a first-year student at her school, using this knowledge to further intimidate her.

As her desperation grew, the victim expressed suicidal thoughts, a plea that Ruzaini callously dismissed, instead taunting her with remarks about her mental health. Ultimately, succumbing to the pressure, she complied and sent him the requested video.

The case came to light when police began investigating Ruzaini for allegedly procuring paid sex with a minor. He was arrested in January 2024, and during the subsequent court proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Gladys Lim argued that Ruzaini specifically targeted a vulnerable victim who had a history of mental health issues and had previously been placed in a girls' home for her struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts.

On July 2, the court imposed a sentence that reflects the severity of Ruzaini's actions, with the prosecutor recommending a maximum sentence of up to four years and 12 weeks in jail along with a possible six strokes of the cane. Ruzaini’s bail has been set at $20,000, with his prison term expected to commence on July 16.