SINGAPORE: A Nanyang Technological University (NTU) researcher has been accused of possessing child abuse material and sending text messages to offer a 12-year-old girl money for sex with him.
Jason Scott Herrin, 47, was charged in District Court on Tuesday (January 25) with four charges.
Those were for possession of 90 photos containing child abuse material, possession of 31 obscene video files and two counts of communicating with others to obtain sexual services of a minor.
Herrin, an American, is accused of sending a message to another person on November 14, 2019, telling that person to offer a 12-year-old girl 4 million rupiah (S$374) to have sex with Herrin.
On February 18, 2020, he allegedly sent a message to a person with a different mobile phone number, asking them to “find a child” for Herrin at an exorbitant price in order to obtain sexual services from the child, the meter states.
Herrin is also charged with possessing the obscene films and photos on August 17, 2020, in a unit of a condominium on Chestnut Avenue.
He was granted S$20,000 bail and will return to court in February.
If convicted of communicating with another person to obtain sexual services from a minor, Herrin could be jailed for two years, fined, or both on each charge.
If convicted of possessing an obscene film, he could be jailed for up to six months, fined between S$500 and S$20,000, or both.
A spokesman for NTU told CNA after the court mentioned that Herring had been suspended and banned from the campus pending the outcome of the court proceedings.
“All members of the University community are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct and to obey the law at all times,” he said.
“The University will take internal disciplinary action following a court sentence in accordance with our policies and procedures. It would be inappropriate for the case to be commented further during court proceedings.”
