57-year-old part time tutor, Teo Thian Hoe, was sentenced to 4 days imprisonment on 2 November after pleading guilty on 17 October to a charge of assault, with another similar charge being considered during his sentencing.
He had attacked his 8-year-old student for giving wrong answers during a tutoring session at the girl’s home, and was caught by the victim’s father.
What happened?
Teo was hired by the girl’s father in January to provide private tuition for her.
During a lesson that was held inside a study room at the victim’s home on 18 March, Teo lost his temper after the girl answered his questions wrongly.
He then flicked her left forearm three times with his fingers while scolding her, as well as punching her in her left arm twice.
He also grabbed her head and pushed it downwards as the victim cried.
His actions were captured on a CCTV camera that was installed inside the room, and the girl also told her father that Teo would punch her suddenly whenever she didn’t do her work properly and that her arm hurt.
The father thought his daughter was being dramatic but decided to observe proceedings through the CCTV camera.
On 22 March, Teo lost his temper again during the lesson and scolded the girl, flicking her forearms and knocking her head with his knuckles 4 times.
He also slapped her right hand and punched her left upper arm twice, grabbed her neck and pushed her head downwards.
The girl suffered a bruise on her left arm and was crying.
The father was home at the time of the incident and heard the tutor yelling at the girl, and he saw Teo assaulting his daughter through the CCTV.
He then confronted the man and told him to leave his home, before he alerted the police to the incident.