A 45-year-old man in Singapore pleaded guilty in court on 9 November to a charge of voluntarily causing hurt to a minor, by hitting his son repeatedly with two umbrellas and a cane after suspecting the boy of stealing money.
The man and victim cannot be named because of a court order protecting the identity of the victim.
Introduction
The incident took place after the boy attended a birthday party and claimed to have received a substantial sum of money as a gift.
What began as a suspicion over a possible lie turned into a harrowing episode of physical punishment, leaving both the son and his mother battered.
The chain of events initiated when the boy’s mother suspected him of lying about receiving a generous S$50 note from the birthday celebrant.
Upon returning home, the mother relayed the incident to her husband, setting the stage for a tumultuous night.
Upon learning of the alleged theft and deception, the father, consumed by anger, resorted to using two umbrellas and a cane to discipline his son.
The escalating punishment unfolded within the confines of their home, leading to visible injuries on the young boy.
He had used and umbrella and hit the boy on his hands and thighs repeatedly and causing him to cry, he then told his son to get out of the house before shutting the door.
The boy later returned back into the flat and this time, the man used a bigger umbrella to hit the boy on the same areas repeatedly.
Witnessing the brutality, the mother attempted to shield her son, only to become a victim herself and getting hit as well when the man used a cane.
The father persisted despite pleas to cease the violence, creating a distressing scene of domestic discord.
The situation escalated to a point where a concerned member of the public contacted the police, reporting a disturbing scene of scolding, smacking, and crying.
The subsequent police response resulted in the apprehension of the father and the hospitalization of the mother and son.
Medical examination revealed the physical toll of the assault, with the son exhibiting red linear marks and bruising on various parts of his body.
The man is set to return to court in January for his sentencing.