SINGAPORE – A man who was a pastor when he repeatedly molested a girl with severe specific language impairment was sentenced to three years’ jail on May 6.

The 72-year-old man had pleaded guilty in April to a molestation charge. Two other charges were considered during his sentencing.

Details about him and the church cannot be disclosed due to a gag order to protect the identity of the victim.

Her condition is a developmental disorder that affects her ability to understand and use spoken and written language, despite having no hearing or intellectual problems.

Before handing down the sentence, Deputy Principal District Judge Ong Chin Rhu said that the case involved a serious abuse of trust and the man’s offence involved skin-to-skin contact with the girl.

She also noted that the offender was a pastor of the church which the victim had attended.

A woman, who identified herself as the man’s friend, told The Straits Times outside the courtroom that he is no longer a pastor at the church.

In earlier proceedings, the court heard that the girl’s mother had frequently sought advice from the man on family and spiritual matters.

The victim began accompanying her mother to church daily during her school holidays.

The man later asked for the girl to help him with paperwork and administrative duties in his office.

He started committing the offences between April 16, 2015 and April 15, 2016, when she was just 12 years old.

He molested the girl for the first time by touching her chest over her clothes.

On anot...