NEW DELHI: An
Indian-origin bar owner
was sentenced to jail on Monday for raping a runaway
17-year-old girl
after allowing her to work for him. Raj Kumar Bala, 42, was sentenced to jail for 13 years and four weeks. According to Channel News Asia, Bala, 42, was convicted of a charge each of raping and molesting the
victim
and pleaded guilty to a third charge of harbouring a
runaway
under the Children and Young Persons Act.
In February 2020, the victim, then 17, ran away from the Singapore Girls' Home and learned about a job opening at Bala's Don Bar and Bistro in Dunlop Street, Little India. She was informed about the position by another runaway already employed there, who had also been sexually assaulted by Bala, a charge currently on hold.
The victim visited the bar for a job interview with Bala, who outlined her responsibilities, including serving customers and making drinks. Bala offered her the job and mentioned she could stay at the bar with other runaways. After working for a few days, the police received a tip-off about absconders employed there and raided the bar in the early hours of February 22, 2020. The victim fled with another girl to evade the raid but was later picked up by Bala.
He drove them to his condominium, telling them they could stay there, before drinking alcohol with the girls. He raped the victim while she was heavily intoxicated and also engaged in sexual acts with the other girl.
The victim left the condominium and turned herself in to the Singapore Girls' Home in July 2020, only revealing to her case worker in August 2020 that she had been raped.
Justice Mavis Chionh acknowledged the "considerable personal harm" the victim endured, noting that the victim blamed herself for being intoxicated, which she believes led to the incident.
Her
court
testimony, supported by her former boyfriend, highlighted how her past trauma continues to affect her well-being, the judge observed. Justice Chionh also noted that Bala was aware of the victim's young age, her fugitive status, and her dependency on him for income and shelter.
Bala faces additional charges and has yet to decide how he will address them. According to "The Straits Times," the bar owner has 22 more charges pending in court related to sex offences involving five other victims.
He is accused of raping and molesting a victim identified in court documents as B1, raping and sexually assaulting a victim identified as B5 and raping, molesting and threatening another victim identified as B6.
He is also accused of sexually penetrating a minor under the age of 16, identified as B7, and molesting and causing alarm to another victim, identified as B8.
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