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SINGAPORE: A father who reported himself to the police for using excessive force in child discipline was sentenced to 15 months’ jail on Friday (Jan 2).<\/p>\n
The 47-year-old earlier admitted to ill-treating his two sons. He cannot be named to protect the identity of the victims.<\/p>\n
He had pleaded guilty to three counts under the Children and Young Persons Act. Another five charges were considered in sentencing.<\/p>\n
The court previously heard that the man has two sons with his ex-wife aged 15 and 11.<\/p>\n
The older boy has special needs, but is high-functioning.<\/p>\n
According to the man’s ex-wife, he would slap and pinch the boys, making them kneel and denying them meals as punishment.<\/p>\n
In 2020, when disciplining his older son over an unspecified incident, the man pinched his chest, causing bruises.<\/p>\n
In March 2020, the boy’s tuition teacher noticed the bruises when the boy happened to pull his shirt up.<\/p>\n
The then-nine-year-old boy said the bruises were caused by his father, and the teacher took a photo, feeling that this was “not normal”.<\/p>\n
While at home sometime in early January 2024, the man was angry at his older son for being rude.<\/p>\n
He hit him multiple times and threatened to hit him with an object but his then-wife stepped between them to stop him.<\/p>\n
The man also made the boy, then 13, kneel on the floor. The boy sustained bruises and scratches from the abuse.<\/p>\n
In 2021, the man was angry with his younger son and told him to take off his pants and face the wall.<\/p>\n
He then used a cane and forcefully hit the then-six-year-old’s buttocks and legs multiple times, leaving marks and abrasions.<\/p>\n
The man’s ex-wife moved out with her two boys to ensure their safety after an incident in January 2024.<\/p>\n
In March 2024, the man lodged a police report against himself for use of excessive violence when disciplining his older son.<\/p>\n
Two months later, on the advice of a social worker, the boys’ mother lodged a police report against the man for family violence, which she said had been occurring against her sons for the past five years with increasing intensity.<\/p>\n
The prosecution had sought 16 to 18 months’ jail for the man, while his defence lawyer had argued that the offences involved “misguided discipline” and not “unprovoked aggression”.<\/span><\/p>\n The punishment for ill-treatment of a child is up to eight years in jail, a fine of up to S$8,000 or both penalties.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n