SINGAPORE — A 61-year-old Malaysian man who worked as a cook at a pre-school was reportedly convicted today of molesting three girls aged between one and two over a seven-month period.

According to Singapore’s The Straits Times, Teo Guan Huat inserted his hands into the toddlers’ diapers between May and November 2023, in what prosecutors described as one of the most horrendous acts of sexual abuse in a Singapore pre-school.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Quek Lu Yi reportedly said Teo, a Singapore permanent resident, was employed only as a cook but had been allowed to help escort children to showers and put them to sleep.

He was caught after a staff member reviewed CCTV footage showing him touching the victims, and was asked to resign in November 2023 before police were alerted on December 2.

Investigators later recovered deleted footage and arrested Teo on December 4.

Four women, aged between 48 and 66, were also charged for allegedly omitting information about the assaults, with one later discharged amounting to an acquittal.

In court, Teo admitted to the offences, claiming he had erectile dysfunction and believed he would not be caught because the children could not speak.

DPP Claire Poh said Teo had “abused the victims’ trust”, noting that the children would often hug him when they saw him.

The court adjourned sentencing to November 10, with prosecutors seeking a 10-year jail term.