SINGAPORE - A piano teacher with autism who molested his five-year-old student was sentenced to three years' probation on Monday (Nov 23). In sentencing, the High Court judge said he had considered the fact that the man, now 22, would suffer disproportionately in prison because of his autism spectrum disorder, among other factors such as his suitability for probation, and the progress he has made to reform. However, Justice Pang Khang Chau further noted that this does not mean that all offenders with autism spectrum disorder should not be jailed, or that the prison service is incapable of taking care of persons with the disorder. Justice Pang said he was simply recognising the "undeniable fact" that a jail term, as the prosecution had originally sought, would have a different impact on the man as compared to other persons of his age. Despite having no causal link to the offence, the man's autism spectrum disorder is not irrelevant to sentencing, and the court is entitled to take this into account, he added. He agreed with the defence's argument that rehabilitation should be the primary sentencing consideration in this case, as the man was a young offender who had committed the offe...