Former preschool teacher jailed for slapping 3-year-old boy, causing his head to hit cupboard

In retaliation, the woman slapped the boy’s arm. The commotion drew the attention of other teachers.

The accused closed the classroom door and scolded the victim before slapping his face twice. The impact caused the boy’s head to hit a cupboard next to him.

The school principal had approached the classroom because of the commotion and saw the slaps.

She immediately intervened, carried the boy out and informed his mother of what happened.

When questioned by his mother, the boy initially denied that anything untoward had happened, but later said the accused had told him not to tell his parents about it.

The boy’s mother lodged a police report.

When interviewed by the police, the accused denied slapping the boy even after she was shown closed-circuit television footage of her doing so.

Instead, she insisted that she had merely nudged the side of his head.

The prosecutor sought at least eight months’ jail, saying the woman violated the high degree of trust placed in teachers to ensure the most vulnerable and defenceless are suitably cared for.

He said the victim did not move away from the accused even after being struck multiple times, and could only scream and cry.

However, he noted that the accused has made compensation of S$15,000 (US$11,600) to the victim’s family.

For ill-treating a child in her care, the woman could have been jailed for up to eight years, fined up to S$8,000, or both.