Post by : Rohit Dhiman

A Singapore man has been sentenced to nine months in jail after admitting to abusing his infant daughter on multiple occasions when her crying angered him. The court heard that the father used a torchlight on the baby's face, shouted at her, threw a pillow at her and slapped her.  The 35-year-old man pleaded guilty to two charges of ill-treating a child in Singapore. Seven other similar charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

Baby Abused After Crying

The first incident happened on July 2, 2024, when the man was working in a darkened study at about 9pm. His nine-month-old daughter woke up and started crying. According to the court proceedings, the father became angry and shone the light from his mobile phone directly into the baby's face. He then shouted at her to stop crying. The man subsequently struck a pillow inside the baby's cot. When the baby cried even louder, he threw the pillow at her face. The abuse continued when he turned the baby onto her side and slapped her buttocks nine times. He again shone the torchlight into her face.

Second Incident Happened Months Later

About five months later, another incident took place in the same study. On November 29, 2024, the baby was standing in her cot when she began crying. The father again became angry and hit her buttocks. He then picked up the child and threw her onto the mattress in the cot. The baby continued crying and was seen using her hand to comfort the area where she had been hit. Some of the abuse was captured by a motion-activated camera installed in the study.

Older Daughter Also Abused

The court also considered seven other charges involving similar conduct. One of those charges concerned the man's older daughter, who was about a year older than the younger victim. He was accused of leaving the girl outside and depriving her of milk. The father cannot be identified because a court order protects the identities of the children involved.

Mother Reported the Abuse

The man's then-wife had reportedly tried several times to stop him from hitting the children. She eventually made a police report on December 30, 2024. The couple later divorced, and their daughters remained in their mother's care following the divorce in December 2025. The father has reportedly not seen his daughters for more than 18 months.

Work Stress Raised in Court

The defence told the court that the man had been experiencing significant pressure at work. His job required him to remain on standby and frequently work at irregular hours, affecting his sleep. His lawyers also said he and his former wife frequently disagreed about how their children should be disciplined. The defence further submitted that the man had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder, which was assessed as a minor to moderate contributing factor to his offending. However, prosecutors argued for a 12-month jail sentence, highlighting the force used against the infant and the child's vulnerability. They also said the man had breached the trust expected of a parent.

Court Hands Down Nine-Month Sentence

The court ultimately sentenced the father to nine months' imprisonment after he pleaded guilty. The case highlights serious concerns surrounding child abuse, particularly when infants are unable to communicate their needs except through crying. Authorities and courts treat violence against young children seriously because of their vulnerability and dependence on caregivers.

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Why was the Singapore father jailed?

The father was jailed for nine months after pleading guilty to two charges involving the ill-treatment of his infant daughter. Seven additional similar charges were considered during sentencing.

What did the father do to the baby?

The court heard that he shouted at the infant, shone a torchlight into her face, threw a pillow at her and slapped her buttocks. In a later incident, he again hit her and threw her onto the cot mattress.

#world news #Global News #Asia News #Singapore News #Global