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SINGAPORE \u2013 Upset with a toddler\u2019s behaviour during feeding time, an infant care teacher at a pre-school slapped the 16-month-old boy\u2019s right hand nine times and pushed his face twice.<\/p>\n
On April 10, the 32-year-old Singaporean woman pleaded guilty to ill-treating the child, and was sentenced to eight months and two weeks\u2019 jail. <\/p>\n
A second similar charge involving an eight-month-old boy was considered during her sentencing.<\/p>\n
Details about the offender cannot be disclosed due to a gag order to protect the identities of the two children.<\/p>\n
Deputy Public Prosecutor Darren Ang said that the woman started working at the pre-school in 2017. Details of the school have been redacted from court documents.<\/p>\n
She was tasked to care for about 10 children who were between two months and 17 months old.<\/p>\n
Her duties included changing their diapers and feeding them, the court heard.<\/p>\n
On Aug 13, 2024, the 16-month-old boy was sitting in an infant chair when the woman tried to feed him some milk from a bottle.<\/p>\n
At around 3pm, she used her hand to hit his left hand when he spat out the milk.<\/p>\n
She continued feeding him and finished about 30 minutes later.<\/p>\n
The woman then pulled his right hand towards her, slapped it three times and pushed the right side of his face.<\/p>\n
DPP Ang said: \u201c(After that), the accused grabbed the victim\u2019s right hand again and slapped it another six times.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe used her left (index) finger to push the right side of the victim\u2019s face, causing him to swing towards the left of the chair.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Sept 26, 2024, an unnamed person made a report, stating that acts of child abuse had taken place at the pre-school.<\/p>\n
Its staff then viewed CCTV footage and uncovered numerous incidents involving the woman and another colleague, whom the DPP referred to as \u201cB1\u201d.<\/p>\n
Court documents did not disclose details about the acts involving B1, whose employment was terminated later that day.<\/p>\n
The woman in the current case stopped working at the pre-school in October 2024, and was arrested in November 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n