A former officer with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) has admitted to a series of disturbing sexual crimes, including the molestation of a teenager and the secret recording of dozens of men. Sharizal Shafi’ee, 40, pleaded guilty to five charges in court on Tuesday, while an additional ten charges will be taken into consideration during his upcoming sentencing. The court proceedings revealed a calculated pattern of behaviour where the accused utilised disguises and social media to prey on young victims.
The prosecution detailed a specific incident occurring on 18 April 2024, where Sharizal dressed as a woman, complete with makeup, to approach students near the back gate of a secondary school. Under the guise of needing assistance to adjust his undergarments, he successfully lured a 15-year-old boy to an HDB staircase landing. It was there that the former officer engaged in inappropriate physical contact and molested the teenager, an act that eventually led to his arrest ten days later following a police investigation.
Further forensic analysis of the accused’s mobile devices uncovered a vast library of illicit material involving at least 36 different men. Among these victims were four minors who were recorded performing sexual acts. Sharizal admitted to creating false personas as a woman on social media platforms to initiate contact with these individuals, often persuading them to engage in sexual acts over video calls which he then surreptitiously recorded without their knowledge or consent.
During the mitigation plea, the defence counsel noted that Sharizal had served 17 years within the SPF and had received several commendations during his career. The lawyer argued that his client is remorseful and currently seeking rehabilitation for his actions. However, the prosecution countered by highlighting the gravity of the breach of trust and the predatory nature of the offences, particularly the physical assault of a 15-year-old and the large-scale exploitation of dozens of victims through digital recording.
The SPF confirmed that the accused was removed from front-line duties prior to his official resignation in June 2024. Under the strict laws of Singapore, such offences involving sexual misconduct against minors and the possession of prohibited recordings carry severe penalties, including lengthy imprisonment, heavy fines, and caning. A gag order has been maintained by the court to ensure the identities of all victims remain protected, with sentencing officially scheduled for 21 April 2024.
