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Radio DJ Dee Kosh charged over sexual offences against minors

(PHOTO: Dee Kosh)
(PHOTO: Dee Kosh)

SINGAPORE — Local deejay and YouTuber Dee Kosh, was charged in court on Thursday (19 August) for offering money in exchange for sexual services to those under 18 and taking surreptitious videos of others.

Dee Kosh, whose real name is Darryl Ian Koshy, appeared in court in person to receive his charges. The Singaporean faces a total of seven charges – one under the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA) for sexual exploitation of a child or a young person; one for possessing obscene films; two for making obscene films; and for commercial sex with a minor under-18.

He is said to have asked a 15-year-old male to perform sexual acts on him in exchange for money, between March and June 2018.

He is also accused of offering $1,000 to a 17-year-old male teenager in July 2018 for the purpose of obtaining a sexual service, and of offering the same amount to another 17-year-old in August 2020 for sexual services.

He also allegedly offered a 16-year-old male $2,000 to perform a sexual service on him, in February 2017.

Koshy was also said to have had 23 obscene films in his possession on 5 October last year at a flat in Woodlands. He allegedly made two obscene films, named “00001” and “00007” between 2016 and 2017 at the same flat.

He was offered bail of $20,000 and will be placed on electronic tagging as part of his bail conditions.

His next hearing is on 15 September.

Koshy, 32, who hosted weekday night shows on local radio station Power 98 FM, said on his Instagram stories on Wednesday night that “these are going to be his last shoutouts”. He had been placed on leave from his job following the allegations.

According to media reports, multiple police reports were filed against Koshy following a series of sexual harassment allegations – mostly by young men – on Instagram and Twitter in August last year.

The police said that Koshy – who has about 188,000 followers in Instagram and 367,000 on YouTube – had allegedly offered money in exchange for sexual services to victims below the age of 18 years old between 2017 and 2020.

Upon his arrest, Koshy was found to be in possession of several obscene videos, including some involving his sexual acts with others, which he had surreptitiously taken.

Under the CYPA, if convicted of sexual exploitation of a young person, he may face a fine not exceeding $10,000, imprisonment for a term of up to five years, or both.

If found guilty for communicating for the purpose of obtaining for consideration sexual services of a minor under 18 years of age, he may face imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, a fine, or both.

Under the Films Act in force at the time of the alleged offences, he, if found guilty for making an obscene film, may face a fine of not less than $20,000 but not more than $40,000, imprisonment for a term of up to two years, or both.

If found guilty for having in his possession any obscene film, he may face a fine of up to $20,000, imprisonment for a term of up to six months or both.

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