A 30-year-old father, who is a repeat offender, whipped his 7-year-old son with a belt about 20 times, as well as punching the boy in the abdomen despite having a court order restricting him from doing so, according to The Straits Times.
He pleaded guilty on 13 September to a number of charges that included two counts of assault on the boy, and was sentenced to 10 months and 3 weeks imprisonment.
The father cannot be named because of a court order protecting the identity of the victim.
The Unfolding of a Tragic Story
A History of Violence
The story begins with the father’s troubled history. In 2015, he was convicted of an unrelated assault charge, leading to a one-month jail sentence.
Four years later, he faced a snatch theft conviction, resulting in a year-long jail term. These prior convictions hinted at a pattern of violence that would sadly continue.
The January Incident
On a fateful afternoon on 7 January, the father was at home with his two sons. Believing that they were not adhering to their bedtime, he lost control.
He used a belt to repeatedly strike his seven-year-old son, inflicting injuries to his right ear, shoulder, upper back, and neck.
He only stopped when the child apologized. Upon returning home, the mother discovered red marks on her son’s body and immediately reported the incident to the police and the boy was then sent to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
Legal Intervention
The concerned mother swiftly applied for an Expedited Order, which was granted on January 10. This order restrained the man from using violence against his wife, the victim, and the child’s brother.
May and July Incidents
However, the story takes a darker turn. In May, the father assaulted his son once more, this time because he believed the child was lying about homework.
He slapped the boy on his chest, face, and arm and punched him in the stomach. This prompted another police intervention.
Shockingly, the man continued to reoffend in July, resulting in another police call. Details of this incident remain undisclosed, but it escalated into a physical altercation between the offender and a 26-year-old man with a redacted identity.