SINGAPORE - A 21-year-old youth, who pleaded guilty a month ago to raping a 15-year-old student while she was drunk following a game of Truth Or Dare, on Monday indicated that he wanted to retract his plea.
While the contents of the letter were not disclosed in open court, Deputy Public Prosecutor Winston Man argued that the reasons given did not amount to a legal defence.He noted that when the accused pleaded guilty on Oct 31, he was legally represented, had repeatedly been told the consequences of a guilty plea, and his only request was to adjourn the case as his grandmother was ill.Justice Audrey Lim gave the accused a month's time to engage a new lawyer.
The co-accused, now 20, is charged with attempted rape and sexual assault by penetration but his case is still pending.