Reformative training for teen who provided sex services as minor, then extorted money

A 17-year-old girl who engaged in sexual acts with a 34-year-old man in exchange for $950 later worked with another teenager to extort more money from him.

- Shaffiq Alkhatib

The teenager who had engaged in the sexual acts turned 18 in April 2023. The other girl, now 17, is identified in court documents as A1.

As the man had unlawfully engaged the sexual services of the then underage girl in February and March 2023, the two teenagers agreed they would threaten to lodge a police report against him if he refused to pay up.

When confronted, he transferred $50,000 to the older girl's bank account.

On Feb 22, the 18-year-old girl was ordered to undergo reformative training for at least six months after she pleaded guilty to one count each of cheating and extortion.

This means she will be detained in a centre to observe a strict regimen that can include foot drills and counselling.

The man was earlier charged with two counts of obtaining the sexual services of an underage girl in exchange for cash. The cases involving him and AI are pending.

The two girls cannot be named as they were below 18 at the time of the offences. The man's identity cannot be disclosed due to a gag order.

In mid-February 2023, the man communicated with a user of messaging platform Telegram to look for somebody who could provide sexual services to him.

Details about the Telegram user have been redacted from court documents.