X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Singaporean Couple On Trial For Killing 5-Year-Old Son With Scalding Water

13 Nov, 2019
Singaporean Couple On Trial For Killing 5-Year-Old Son With Scalding Water

A Singaporean couple is on trial for brutally assaulting and killing their 5 year old son in October 2016. Find out more about the case here.

A young Singaporean couple is currently facing trial in the High Court for killing their 5-year-old son. 

Azlin Arjunah and her husband Ridzuan Mega Abdul Rahman, who are both 27 years old, are accused of repeatedly ill-treating and assaulting their son. The boy succumbed to his injuries caused by being scalded with hot water in October 2016. 

killing 5 year old son

Parents attacked him over a period of time 

According to the prosecution, the boy was allegedly abused for four months. And just between July to August 2016, there were more than 10 instances of abuse. 

In July of the same year,  the boy’s father used a pair of pliers on two separate occasions to pinch his son’s buttocks and thighs several times, causing bruises.

A month later, the boy’s mother hit him with a broom on his body, back, and legs for knocking over a biscuit tin. This left bruises on his stomach and caused him to develop a limp and a misaligned kneecap. 

Between the end of August and early September, Ridzuan purportedly burned his son’s palm with a heated metal spoon after his wife Azlin told him to “deal with” the boy. 

Later in October, the abuse intensified as both parents grew more irritated with their son. In one instance, Ridzuan flicked cigarette ash from a lit cigarette on his son’s arm after he did not answer him. After this, he even used a clothes hanger to hit him on the palm. 

In the week leading up to the boy’s death, Azlin and Ridzuan both repeatedly threw hot water – which measured between 86.5°C and 98.7°C – at the boy which caused his skin to peel and blisters to form on his chest, shoulder, and leg. 

2 days before the boy’s death, the couple confined him in a cat cage which measured 70cm in height 58 in width and 90cm in length.  

The day of the attack 

On October 22 – a day before the boy’s death – Ridzuan allegedly hit his head, hands, and legs with a broom to make him take off his shorts for a bath. 

When in the toilet, Ridzuan again threw cups of hot water which caused the boy to fall onto the floor and lose consciousness. 

Afraid that they might be arrested for child abuse, the couple waited for more than six hours before taking the boy to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

The boy died the next morning. 

Following his death, the police immediately arrested Ridzuan at his flat, while Azlin was arrested two days later. 

Boy lived with foster mum for 4 years 

According to media reports, the boy spent the first four years of his life with Azlin’s close friend, Ms. Zufarina Abdul Hamid as both Azlin and Ridzuan were unemployed and on financial assistance at that time. 

Ridzuan, however, was said to have made a small income by selling various items such as amulets, love potions and old currencies on the e-commerce website Carousell. 

During the time with Ms. Zufarina, the boy was said to be well taken care of. He also called the woman “mama.” The child lated moved backed in with Azlin and Ridzuan in 2015. 

Parent’s mental health condition 

After the boy’s death, the couple were examined by psychiatrists to assess their mental state.

Azlin was found to be suffering from an adjustment disorder with depressed mood while Ridzuan was found to have antisocial personality traits like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and intermittent explosive disorder (IED) 

The court, however, deemed them as of sound mind and fit to plead. 

During the trial, Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Wen Hsien called the murder “as horrific as it is tragic” and reprimanded the couple for their “cruel and abhorrent conduct.”

“Leaving aside the physical abuse he suffered, one cannot imagine the pain and torment the deceased must have endured in the months leading up to his death. He was tortured to his death, and had no one to turn to,” he added.

If convicted of killing their 5-year-old son, Azlin and Ridzuan will face the death penalty or life imprisonment with caning. 

Trial continues.

Partner Stories
Celebrity Dad Mark Lee Shares the 3 P's of Raising School Going Children - Parenting Tips, PSLE Preparation & Protecting Your Child’s Eyesight!
Celebrity Dad Mark Lee Shares the 3 P's of Raising School Going Children - Parenting Tips, PSLE Preparation & Protecting Your Child’s Eyesight!
NTUC First Campus (NFC) Expands Child Support Model to Include Support for Mental Well-being
NTUC First Campus (NFC) Expands Child Support Model to Include Support for Mental Well-being
Singapore's Dengue Cases Surpass The 35,000 Mark, Highest Since 2013
Singapore's Dengue Cases Surpass The 35,000 Mark, Highest Since 2013
Typhoon Haiyan relief effort
Typhoon Haiyan relief effort

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Shreya Jagdish

  • Home
  • /
  • News
  • /
  • Singaporean Couple On Trial For Killing 5-Year-Old Son With Scalding Water
Share:
  • 2-year-old Singapore girl allegedly murdered by her dad on Father's Day

    2-year-old Singapore girl allegedly murdered by her dad on Father's Day

  • Singaporean father charged with murder for pregnant wife's death

    Singaporean father charged with murder for pregnant wife's death

  • 'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

    'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

  • ‘How Can I See My Child Get Hit and Not Do Anything?’ Police Called In After Maid and Employer Get Into Fight at Home

    ‘How Can I See My Child Get Hit and Not Do Anything?’ Police Called In After Maid and Employer Get Into Fight at Home

  • 2-year-old Singapore girl allegedly murdered by her dad on Father's Day

    2-year-old Singapore girl allegedly murdered by her dad on Father's Day

  • Singaporean father charged with murder for pregnant wife's death

    Singaporean father charged with murder for pregnant wife's death

  • 'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

    'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

  • ‘How Can I See My Child Get Hit and Not Do Anything?’ Police Called In After Maid and Employer Get Into Fight at Home

    ‘How Can I See My Child Get Hit and Not Do Anything?’ Police Called In After Maid and Employer Get Into Fight at Home

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and lifestyle updates.