Indian-origin man sentenced to 13 years in jail for raping minor runaway girl

A 42-year-old Indian-origin man was sentenced to jail for 13 years and four weeks in Singapore on Monday, on charges of raping a runaway 17-year-old girl. The accused was identified as Raj Kumar Bala, who worked at a bar at Dunlop Street in the Little India district.

Bala would also receive nine strokes of the cane for committing the crime.

According to his defense lawyer, Bala was asked to be released on bail pending appeal.

During a hearing, the court learnt that the survivor was 17 years old in February 2020, when she ran away from the Singapore Girls' Home.

She found out about a job opportunity at Bala's Don Bar and Bistro through another runaway who was working there.