Maid hurts baby for disturbing her sleep

Angry with the baby for interrupting her sleep, the maid picked up the child before dropping her back into the cot.

Indian national Lalkhawngaihi, 24, also forcefully lifted the nine-month-old baby out of the cot by her right hand.

The maid was jailed for six weeks yesterday after pleading guilty to one count of voluntarily causing hurt to the little girl in a Choa Chu Kang flat.

The girl's 25-year-old mother had hired Lalkhawngaihi on Aug 2 last year. Her duties included taking care of the baby.

The mother cannot be named to protect her daughter's identity.

Some time in early April, the mother instructed the maid to feed her daughter whenever she woke between 3am and 5am.

At around 4.50am on April 10, the baby woke up and started crying. Lalkhawngaihi, who was sleeping in the same room, went to the cot and picked the baby up.

After carrying her for a short while, she dropped her into the cot from a height of about 15cm.

The maid's actions were later seen by the baby's parents, who had a closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) installed in the room.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Winston Man said: "The victim appeared stunned after being dropped from this height.

"The accused acted in this manner as she was angry and frustrated at the victim for crying and disturbing her sleep.

"The victim became quiet, but started crying again shortly thereafter."

PULLED

Lalkhawngaihi then pulled the girl's right hand to drag her out of the cot. She left the room with the baby to get her some milk.

DPP Man told District Judge Salina Ishak that the girl's cries awakened her parents. They went through the CCTV footage and saw that the maid had hurt their daughter.

When they confronted Lalkhawngaihi, she kept quiet and could not account for her actions.

The mother informed the police at around 10am the next day.

The girl was taken to KK Women's and Children's Hospital for a medical examination and was found to have a 1.5cm red patch near her right armpit.

DPP Man said: "While the victim was unable to complain of any discomfort, her parents informed that she was exhibiting normal behaviour."

In mitigation, Lalkhawngaihi, who was not represented by a lawyer, said she was sorry and pleaded for a light sentence. For voluntarily causing hurt to the baby, she could have been jailed up to two years and fined up to $5,000.

This article was first published on June 3, 2015.
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