A Singaporean mother who hit her six-year-old son more than 100 times with a belt because he was misbehaving has been sentenced to 13 months in jail.
According to CNA, on top of the beating, the woman also punched the boy, made him do a handstand and kicked and slapped him.
It was reported that when footage of the beating was played in court, the public and media who were told to leave could hear the cries of the boy, which were loud enough to be heard from outside the courtroom.
In sentencing, District Judge Carol Ling said the footage was “hard to watch” and that excessive force and violence, even in the name of discipline, cannot be tolerated.
This was despite the fact that it was an isolated incident that did not result in permanent injuries and found the woman remorseful.
At the time of the offence in 2020, the woman lived with her then-boyfriend, as well as her children and other relatives.
In the incident, which occurred on May 11, 2020, she punched her son for misbehaving and made him do a handstand, but he could not maintain the pose.
She struck him with a belt, using both the strap and buckle, for about 10 minutes, as well as kicked and slapped him.
The woman later took her son to a neighbourhood police centre and lied that her boyfriend had beaten him. A doctor found more than 50 bruises and abrasions on the boy.
We hope that the boy is now safe and sound.
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