A 44-year-old woman in Singapore has been sentenced to five days’ jail after pushing an eight-year-old schoolgirl into a wall at an MRT station during the busy morning rush hour.
The incident happened at Buona Vista MRT station on Jan. 16, 2025, at around 9:05am, when commuters were crowding the platform during peak travel time.
According to court documents, the young girl had just exited a train with her mother when she accidentally bumped into the woman, identified as Ho Hui Ling, while walking along the platform.
Instead of brushing the incident off, Ho reportedly became upset and followed the child from behind before forcefully shoving her into a nearby wall.
The impact caused the girl to cry immediately after the incident.
Woman Allegedly Told Mother ‘She Pushed Me First’
What shocked many in court was Ho’s reaction afterwards.
Rather than apologising or checking on the child, Ho allegedly walked away after quietly telling the girl’s mother: “She pushed me, so I pushed her back.”
The child later complained of pain in her head and shoulders following the incident. Although she did not seek medical treatment, her mother eventually lodged a police report over the matter.
Closed-circuit television footage from the station reportedly showed the MRT platform packed with commuters before Ho approached the child from behind and shoved her into the wall.
Ho was later arrested on Jun. 10, 2025, and charged in court the following day before being released on bail.
Court Says Jail Needed To Deter Similar Behaviour
During sentencing, prosecutors argued that accidental bumping is common in crowded public transport areas such as MRT stations, especially during morning peak periods.
However, they stressed that retaliating physically against a young child crossed the line and required punishment.
The prosecution also highlighted that Ho would have known the victim was a primary school student because she was dressed in a school uniform at the time.
They added that Ho showed little remorse even after seeing the child crying following the shove.
Prosecutors reportedly sought at least a one-week jail sentence, warning that the incident could easily have resulted in more serious injuries.
The defence pleaded for a lighter sentence and requested that the court impose a fine instead of jail time.
However, the judge ruled that a custodial sentence was necessary to send a strong deterrent message against aggressive behaviour in public spaces, especially involving children.
Ho was ultimately sentenced to five days in jail.