A man who has been found guilty of grooming a 15-year-old boy on Grindr, and then buying him a pre-paid mobile sim card in exchange for sex has been jailed for a pathetic one year.
Htut Phyo Wai, a 26-year-old Singaporean, met the teenager back in 2019 and this week pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual penetration of a minor under 16.
After downloading the app in 2018, the victim learned he could earn money by soliciting his body. He then posted that he needed a sim card and Htut asked what he could get in return for getting him one.
“Whatever you want”, replied the boy.
On the day they met, the man asked the boy how old he was, and proceeded to have sex with him even after the boy revealed his real age. Afterwards, Htut gave him the sim and left.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Emily Koh claimed it was still a crime because 15-year-old’s lack the maturity to give consent (duh) and yet still gave Htut one year, when the maximum sentence could have been 10.
Just another reason why users of hook-up apps should have to provide proof of age to access them.
