Jailed: Maid caught on CCTV abusing 1-year-old boy

SINGAPORE — A toddler’s mother who happened to view the live feed of a CCTV in her home saw her maid abusing the one-year-old boy, a court heard.

Frustrated with the child’s cries, the maid pushed the victim’s forehead, causing him to fall backwards. Shortly after, the culprit grabbed his wrists and swung him up and down.

The boy’s mother immediately made her way home and the police were also called.

But just before the culprit was led away by officers, her employers found two phones among several stolen items in her bag.

At the State Courts on Monday (2 March), the 36-year-old culprit Susiana, who is from Indonesia and goes by one name, was jailed for eight weeks.

The perpetrator, herself a mother of three children, pleaded guilty to one charge of ill-treating a child and one count of theft as an employee.

Two other counts of theft were considered in sentencing.

Frustrated with child’s cries

On 27 September last year, the victim’s 30-year-old mother viewed the live feed of a CCTV via an app on her mobile phone.

While watching the feed, she saw Susiana cooking in the kitchen. At about 5.15pm, the victim walked towards the maid while crying.

“The accused was frustrated with the first victim’s cries, and she pushed the victim’s forehead with her left hand,” said Deputy Public Prosecutor Benedict Chan. The boy fell backwards and landed on his bottom.

The child continued crying, said DPP Chan. “He sat on the kitchen floor for about 10 minutes before standing up on his own. In her frustration, the accused grabbed both of the victim’s wrists with her hands, and swung (him) up and down several times. The accused swung the victim as high as to her chest level. She then carried (him) out of the view of the CCTV,” the prosecutor added.

The boy’s mother and father immediately made their way home. When confronted by the mother, Susiana admitted to her actions. The child’s grandfather then called for the police.

The boy was later sent to hospital, where he was observed to be fretful and had a bruise on his left forehead.

Stole two phones, purse

Police officers arrested Susiana but before they led her away, the boy’s grandmother asked the maid to empty her bag.

Inside were several stolen items belonging to the maid’s employers - two mobile phones, a purse and a phone earpiece.

Susiana stole one of the phones earlier that month from the TV console of the living room. “The accused stole the said iPhone as she wanted to use it to call her son,” said DPP Chan.

In mitigation, Susiana told District Judge Tan Jen Tse that she was remorseful and regretted what she had done. She said she had three young children to support and was the sole breadwinner of her family.

For ill-treating a child, Susiana could have been fined up to $4,000 and also jailed up to four years.

The maximum punishment for theft as an employee is up to seven years’ jail and a fine.

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