Updated: 09/05/2013 17:04 | By Channel NewsAsia
Cleaner jailed 14 months for abusing his son
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SINGAPORE: A part-time cleaner was jailed 14 months on Thursday by the Community Court for ill-treating his 10-year-old son.
The 28-year-old admitted to repeatedly slapping the boy on both sides of his face, punching him on his body, as well as kicking his torso and legs.
Both father and son cannot be named to protect the boy's identity.
Investigations revealed that on April 10 this year, the cleaner had discovered S$50 missing from his wallet, and that his son had left the house early that morning.
He suspected his son of taking the money without permission.
After confronting the boy later that night, the boy admitted taking the money.
He at first told his father that he had spent it on books but later confessed to having spent it on game cards.
His father then lost his temper and began to hit the boy multiple times.
The beatings left bruises on the boy's body, as well as caused him to have temporary hearing loss.
The offence came to light after the boy told his friend's father about what happened and a police report was made. The boy has now been placed at a children's home.
The accused is a single father who is divorced.
In meting out the sentence, District Judge Lim Keng Yeow noted that while the frustrations faced by a single parent are understandable, and that managing repeated misbehaviour by a child is challenging, it is still no excuse for what the accused had done.
"Parental acts of discipline may be necessary, but should not be driven by impatience, annoyance or rage...these acts of aggression on a vulnerable boy are not acts of parental correction," he said, adding that it was "clearly unacceptable".
In addition to a jail term, the cleaner had to enter into an S$8,000 good behaviour bond for a period of 24 months.
He could have been jailed up to four years and fined S$4,000. - CNA/fa
give him 10 times more!
