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Maid jailed for biting, pinching 11-month-old baby out of frustration as he refused to sleep
SINGAPORE – A domestic worker who bit and pinched an 11-month-old baby she was taking care of was sentenced to 20 months’ jail on Feb 6.
The Myanmar national, 24, who cannot be named owing to a gag order to protect the victim’s identity, pleaded guilty to three charges of ill-treating a child who was under her care.
Deputy Public Prosecutor J. Jayaletchmi said the helper’s employer noticed a bite mark on her son’s left arm on Nov 6, 2024.
When she asked her about this, the worker claimed that the baby would occasionally bite himself, which could have caused the mark.
The domestic worker subsequently admitted that she had bitten the baby as she was frustrated with him for refusing to sleep, and acknowledged that the bite had left a bruise.
It was not mentioned in court why she had admitted to what she had done and continued to work in the same household.
Two weeks later, on Nov 20, the helper told her employer that she had found a bite mark on the baby’s right arm while bathing him.
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When the baby’s mother questioned her about it, she said she did not know how it had happened.
The baby’s mother then checked the footage from a CCTV camera in the house.
She saw that, on Nov 19, the offender had picked the baby up from his cot when he woke up crying.
The baby was seen arching away from her and wailing.
The mother suspected that the helper had pinched the baby, and confronted her about it.
The domestic worker then admitted to pinching the baby twice on his waist as she was frustrated that he would not sleep.
She also admitted to biting his arm on another occasion.
The baby’s mother alerted the police on Nov 24, 2024.
Seeking 16 to 20 months’ jail, DPP Jayaletchmi said the victim was extremely young and vulnerable and was utterly defenceless against the domestic worker.
She added: “The accused was entrusted by the victim’s parents to take care of the victim, but she abused this position of trust to physically abuse him instead. This must be met with strong condemnation from the law.”
In mitigation, the helper apologised for her actions but said she was only able to go to bed after midnight daily and was frustrated that she did not have sufficient sleep.
Speaking through a Burmese interpreter, she said: “I was wrong in biting and pinching the baby... But this is my first job in Singapore and my first serious mistake. I came to work in Singapore to earn money for my mother’s medical expenses.”
During sentencing, District Judge Paul Chan said violence against children would not be tolerated.
He added that even if the offender had been deprived of sleep, there was no need for her to resort to abusing an innocent child.
For ill-treating a child under his or her care, an offender may be jailed for up to eight years, fined up to $8,000, or both.
