In Singapore, a couple has abused a two-year-old boy so severely that it makes you question why such people exist.
According to a Channel News Asia report, a mother and his boyfriend pleaded guilty last Thursday (Jun 23) to one count each for causing grievous hurt causing death, and three counts each for child abuse.
Not only that, the mother of the boy, Zaidah, 41, and her boyfriend Zaini Jamari, 46, will also have another 26 and 18 charges for child abuse, respectively.
Authorities got wind of the abuse when the boy died of his injuries, and when further investigation revealed the extent of the abuse.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Claire Poh described the “physical, mental and emotional abuse” of a “defenceless, voiceless” two-year-old child “horrific and inhumane.”
On one occasion, the toddler dozed off while he was sent to stand with his hand on his head. When his mother saw it, she began slapping him on his face and chest to wake him up.
The Deputy Public Prosecutor also told the court that when the boy fell to the ground, his mother twisted his hands and stomped on them. Then, after she carried him by his hands and legs to the toilet to change his diapers, forced him stand with his hands on his head.
The day before the boy died, he had endured hours of abuse: refusing to eat breakfast, his mother slapped him on the back, causing him to fall on the floor. She then stomped on his chest and pulled him up by the arm.
That night, tired after standing all day, the boy was force-fed dried chilies.
“Zaini slapped the boy, and kicked him in the stomach till Daniel fell to the floor, hitting his head,” the CNA report said. “Zaini then force-fed the toddler chilli for the second time that day.”
When the couple couldn’t wake the boy the next day, their housemates called the ambulance. The boy was pronounced dead that morning.
The paramedics came shortly thereafter, and seeing the bruises all over the boy’s body, asked the couple what had happened. The couple replied that the boy had a habit of pinching himself, and had slipped in the toilet.
During the couple’s trial, the Deputy Public Prosecutor noted their lack of remorse for their abuse.
“They were more concerned with protecting themselves, displaying total and cool indifference to the tragedy that had happened,” he said.
During the trial, the prosecutor read out loud to the court at least 40 external injuries found on the boy’s body, which included a rib fracture and bleeding in the brain.
District Judge Bala Reddy also instructed a court officer to show the couple pictures the many injuries the boy sustained. Neither of them showed any reaction.
When asked if they had anything to say, they simply asked for lighter sentences.
According to the CNA report, the couple faces up to 10 years’ jail for for causing grievous hurt causing death, and for child abuse, a jail time of up to four years and/or fined up to S$4,000, per charge.
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