SINGAPORE, July 8 — A former infant care teacher has been jailed for 14 months for force‑feeding a toddler and abusing two other babies, offences uncovered only after a whistle-blower alerted her pre-school to possible mistreatment.
According to The Straits Times, the 37‑year‑old woman — who cannot be named due to a gag order protecting the children — pleaded guilty to ill‑treating a one‑year‑old girl. Two other charges involving an eight‑month‑old boy and a 10‑month‑old girl were taken into consideration during sentencing.
Force‑feeding incident captured on CCTV
The court heard that on September 23, 2024, the teacher took four children to a nap room and handed each a milk bottle. When the one‑year‑old girl stopped drinking, the woman repeatedly forced the bottle back into her mouth, holding the child’s head in place as the toddler struggled, kicked, spat out milk and eventually vomited.
Despite this, she continued to hit the child on the head and back before removing her from the room.
Whistle-blower exposed wider pattern of abuse
Three days later, an informant reported suspected child abuse at the pre-school. Staff reviewed CCTV footage and discovered multiple incidents involving the woman and another colleague, identified only as B2. Both were dismissed, and the Early Childhood Development Agency was notified.
B2 was previously sentenced to eight months and two weeks’ jail. The woman in the present case was arrested in November 2025.
Prosecution sought up to 16 months’ jail
Deputy Public Prosecutor Darren Ang urged the court to impose a sentence of up to a year and four months, stressing that infants are among the most vulnerable members of society and cannot defend themselves. He noted that Parliament had strengthened the Children and Young Persons Act in 2019, doubling maximum penalties for child‑ill‑treatment offences.
Under the Act, offenders can be jailed for up to eight years, fined up to S$8,000 (RM25,223), or both.
