Ex-childcare teacher charged with child abuse

SINGAPORE - The former childcare teacher who allegedly broke the leg of a two-year-old boy was charged in a district court on Tuesday with ill-treating him.

Siti Hadijah Mohamed Sin, 51, who had been a part-time teacher at a My First Skool branch in Toa Payoh, is said to have grabbed the child by his upper arms and heaved him backwards onto the floor twice.

This allegedly caused a hairline fracture in his left shin.

The incident is said to have taken place last July and was captured on the centre's security camera.

She was in court on Tuesday with her husband and five other family members.

Standing in the dock, she displayed no expression and merely nodded her head as the charge was read to her. She did not enter a plea.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Zhong Zewei informed the judge that investigations have been completed and the prosecution is ready to proceed.

But defence counsel Satwant Singh said he had just been hired and needed time to take instructions from his client and to make representations to the Attorney-General's Chambers.

He asked for a month's adjournment. He also asked the prosecution for a copy of the medical report of the injured boy.

The case will be mentioned again on Feb 18.

If convicted, Siti Hadijah could be fined up to $4,000 and jailed for up to four years.

She has since been sacked by the childcare centre at Block 192, Lorong 4, Toa Payoh. It is run by NTUC First Campus.

The court issued a gag order on any information that could reveal the identity of the boy. He no longer attends the childcare centre.

khush@sph.com.sg

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