Post by : Rohit Dhiman

A former behavioural therapist in Singapore has been fined S$5,000 after admitting to hurting a four-year-old boy with special needs during a teaching session at his home. The incident occurred after the child repeatedly struck her in the face, knocking off her glasses. The therapist subsequently grabbed the boy by the hand and pulled him from his chair onto the bedroom floor. Tricia Lee Hsien, a 29-year-old Singaporean, was sentenced on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, after pleading guilty to one charge of voluntarily causing hurt to a minor. The case has drawn attention to the responsibilities of professionals working with children who require additional behavioural support, particularly when sessions become difficult to manage. The court heard that the incident was recorded by a closed-circuit television camera installed in the child's bedroom. His mother later reviewed the footage, contacted the centre where Lee worked and reported the matter to the police.

How the Incident Unfolded During a Lesson

Lee had been working as a behavioural therapist at an autism centre whose identity has been withheld under a court-imposed gag order to protect the child's identity. In February 2024, she was assigned to conduct lessons with the boy, who lived with his parents. The child had a history of Asperger's syndrome, a condition within the autism spectrum that can involve social communication difficulties, repetitive behaviours and a restricted range of interests. Lee conducted sessions with him twice a week in his bedroom, where a CCTV camera had been installed by his parents. According to the facts presented in court, the boy's parents generally allowed the sessions to continue without intervening, even when he cried or had tantrums. They trusted Lee to manage his behaviour during the lessons. The incident took place on June 13, 2024, during a session that began at around 3pm. At approximately 5.25pm, Lee was seated with the child at a table and reading a book to him, pointing out words and pictures as part of the lesson. The boy began moving restlessly in his chair and attempted to take hold of the book. Lee instructed him to place both hands on the table in a position known as "quiet hands", a technique she had been trained to use to manage behavioural difficulties and prevent actions such as hitting or grabbing objects.

Therapist's Actions Captured on CCTV

After the child hit her, Lee put her glasses back on and swung her left hand downwards twice in an aggressive manner. She then threw the book onto the floor, picked it up and tossed it onto the table before throwing it against the wall. The child struck her face again. Lee pointed at him and firmly told him not to hit her. However, he hit her a third time and grabbed her spectacles. Lee took back her glasses and stood up. She then grabbed the child's hand and dragged him off his chair onto the bedroom floor, causing him physical pain. The entire sequence of events was captured by the room's CCTV camera. Following the incident, Lee took the boy out of the bedroom and informed his father that the child had hit her in the face. The father tried several times to calm his son but was unable to settle him. He eventually decided to end the session for the day. The video later became central to understanding what had happened during the lesson. When the mother watched the CCTV footage, she was shocked by Lee's actions and contacted the centre where the therapist was employed.

Child Examined at Hospital After the Incident

After the incident was reported, the four-year-old boy was taken to hospital for an examination. Medical staff assessed him as being in a normal condition, and no significant external injuries were documented. Although the child did not have documented external injuries, the incident raised concerns about how behavioural professionals should respond when a young child becomes physically agitated during a lesson. Lee was dismissed from her job and investigated by the police. The name of the autism centre has not been disclosed because of a court order intended to protect the identity of the child. The case also highlighted the particular responsibilities of professionals working with a special needs child. Such work can involve challenging situations, but therapists are expected to use appropriate methods to manage a child's behaviour while taking account of the child's individual needs.

Prosecutors Sought a Fine Rather Than Imprisonment

During the sentencing hearing, Deputy Public Prosecutor Darren Ang asked the court to impose a fine of between S$5,000 and S$6,000. The prosecution acknowledged that child abuse offences are serious. However, it argued that the circumstances of this case were exceptional because the harm caused was limited, the child had no documented injuries and the incident was an isolated act that occurred over a brief period. The prosecution also assessed Lee's level of culpability as relatively low. It therefore sought a financial penalty rather than a prison sentence. Lee was represented by lawyer Low Cheong Yeow, who explained that his client's intention had been to take the child to his father, who was in the living room, because she had been unable to calm him down. The defence argued that Lee had not carefully considered her actions while trying to achieve that objective. The lawyer's explanation was presented as part of the arguments made on her behalf during sentencing.

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Judge Highlights the Therapist's Professional Responsibility

Principal District Judge Toh Yung Cheong accepted that Lee's culpability was low. The judge noted that the statement of facts showed she had acted after being struck in the face by the child. However, the court also emphasised that Lee was a trained behavioural therapist who knew about the child's condition. The judge said she could have taken alternative steps to manage the situation rather than dragging the boy from his chair.

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