Man slapped elderly father, hit him with towel over use of toilet

SINGAPORE — Upset over his father’s use of the toilet, a man slapped the older man and used a towel to hit his face.

Mohammed Ariffin Tajuddin was found out when his younger sister saw their 75-year-old father’s bruises. He confessed to the assault upon being confronted by her.

Ariffin, 42, was jailed for three weeks’ on Tuesday (28 December) after he pleaded guilty to one count of causing hurt to a vulnerable person, with another charge of breaching a protection order taken out by his father against him considered for sentencing.

The protection order was issued by the Family Justice Courts on 7 January this year.

Ariffin resided with his father in a flat. On 10 November this year, he became unhappy with his father’s use of the toilet. Court documents did not specify why.

Ariffin then used his right hand to slap the elderly man’s face, and used his towel to hit the same spot. The victim felt pain in his nose and eyes.

Ariffin’s sister found out about the assault when she saw her father’s bruises days later. She made a police report and Ariffin was arrested.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Kenny Yang did not submit on a specific jail term, but asked for Ariffin to be referred to the Institute of Mental Health following his release. Ariffin’s psychiatric condition was not revealed in court.

Ariffin had nothing to say in mitigation.

District Judge Kessler Soh noted that it was the first time Ariffin had been convicted for an offence, and told him never to hit his father again. “You need to seek treatment if necessary so that this doesn’t happen again,” the judge added.

Ariffin replied that he understood.

For voluntarily causing hurt, Ariffin could have been jailed up to three years, or fined up to $5,000. For offending against a vulnerable person, he could have faced up to twice the maximum penalty.

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