Myanmar national, Chi Nar Paw Tan, 24-years-old, was sentenced to 8 weeks jail on 9 March after a child under her care swallowed a toothbrush.
Her crime was for a negligent act; she failed to removed the toothbrush from the kid’s mouth under her care, leading to injuries.
She was tasked to bathe the 2-year-old boy on 27 December 2020; she soaped the boy’s body with her right hand and held the 15cm toothbrush on her left hand.
She then turned her back to the boy for a moment to find the shower head, meanwhile the toothbrush in the boy’s mouth somehow became lodged in his throat.
The boy cried out in pain and the maid turned to see the handle of the toothbrush protruding fro his mouth, the boy also vomited blood.
The mother of the child was then alerted to the shouting and called for an ambulance, where the kid was then taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Toothbrush bristles were found lodged in the middle of his esophagus, but the hospital didn’t have the necessary equipment to remove the toothbrush.
The boy was then taking to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital where the toothbrush was then removed with a pair of strong forceps.
Chi Nar Paw Tan was then arrested later that night, and the boy was warded and discharged a few days later on 31 December 2020.
The maid had been in remand since December 2020 and it is understood that she has served enough time in “jail” to fulfil her 8 week jail term.