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AsiaOne
2 days ago
- AsiaOne
Preschool teacher who tripped toddler 4 times till she bled from nose jailed, Singapore News
A former preschool teacher was sentenced to nine months and two weeks' jail on Monday (July 28) for repeatedly tripping a toddler at the centre where she worked. Her actions caused the girl to suffer bruises to her face and bleeding from the nose, reported The Straits times and CNA. Saiidah Kamarudin, 34, had pleaded guilty in June to one of two counts of ill-treating the 20-month-old girl in the case which occurred in November 2023. The other charge was taken into consideration for her sentencing. Media reports did not name the victim and the childcare centre, to protect the girl's identity. Saiidah, a mother of two herself, had started working at the centre in late September but tendered her resignation a month later. On Nov 6, while serving her notice, she had taken the victim to the toilet area to clean her up. While seated with the girl in front of her, Saiidah swept her right leg outwards, which caught the toddler's left foot, causing her to stumble. She repeated the action, which resulted in the girl falling backwards onto the floor. Saiidah picked her up and continued to clean her face. Saiidah did the same thing for the third time as the pair were walking out of the area, with the victim walking in front of her. The girl managed to regain her balance after stumbling and did not fall. The former teacher made one more attempt to trip the girl, this time catching both of her legs. The toddler fell on her face and cried. Footage of the incident caught on CCTV was played in court, reported CNA. According to The Straits Times, the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Cheah Wenjie had stated in court last month that the victim was found to be bleeding from her right nostril and there was a bruise under her nose. The girl's parents took her to a doctor on Nov 8 and filed a police report two days later. They also asked to see CCTV footage of the incident. Saiidah was arrested on April 18, 2024. On July 28, the prosecution had urged the court to sentence her to a jail term of between 15 and 16 months, calling her actions "deliberate and calculated", as well as a "disturbing breach of trust by a childcare professional". DPP Cheah also pointed out that the child was unable to tell anyone of the offences as she could not speak. In her defence, Saiidah's lawyer Deepak Netverlal from Crown Juris Law argued that a jail term was not warranted, and that his client is remorseful for her actions. He also highlighted the circumstances behind her resignation, including how her feedback on issues at the school were ignored and she was made to feel "like an outcast" and "not good enough" by other staff members. "The accused acknowledges that she could have behaved better and that it was a solitary incident wherein she had lost her sense of judgment," he added. According to the Children and Young Persons Act, anyone found guilty of ill-treating a child may be jailed up to eight years, or fined up to $8,000, or both. [[nid:717727]] candicecai@
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Singapore: Jail for former pre-school teacher who tripped toddler repeatedly, causing child to bleed from nose
Saiidah Kamarudin, who was sentenced to nine months and two weeks' jail on July 28, could not explain the reasons behind her offence. -- PHOTO: ST FILE SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): A former pre-school teacher was sentenced to nine months and two weeks' jail on July 28 for tripping a 20-month-old girl four times. Saiidah Kamarudin's actions caused the child to fall on her face in one instance, causing a nose bleed. Saiidah, 34, who has two children of her own, had pleaded guilty in June to one count of ill-treating the toddler. Before handing down the sentence, District Judge Tan Jen Tse noted that the young victim could not articulate what the offender had done to her. He also said Saiidah had demonstrated persistence, noting that she stopped tripping the girl only when the child became injured. In earlier proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Cheah Wenjie told the court that the Singaporean committed the offence shortly after she tendered her resignation on Oct 12, 2023. Details about the pre-school have been redacted from court documents. On Nov 6 that year, Saiidah was tasked with helping to take care of a playgroup that included the victim. Shortly before 12.30pm, she took the little girl to the toilet area. While cleaning the child's face, Saiidah used her right leg to sweep outwards from her left to her right, catching the victim's left leg. The court heard that the toddler stumbled but did not fall down. Saiidah immediately used the same leg to trip the toddler for the second time, causing the child to fall backwards onto the floor. Saiidah picked the girl up and resumed cleaning her face. They were about to walk out of the area when Saiidah positioned herself behind the child. Using a similar method, she tripped the toddler for the third time. The child stumbled forward but did not fall, the court heard. The girl managed to regain her balance and walked forward, with Saiidah behind her. At 12.30pm, Saiidah tripped the toddler again. This time, the victim fell on her face and started crying. Saiidah picked her up, and another teacher who heard the cries came over to check on the child. In June 2025, the prosecutor said: 'At this juncture, the victim was bleeding from her right nostril, and there was a bruise under the victim's nose.' A CCTV camera at the school captured Saiidah committing the offence. On Nov 8, 2023, the victim's parents took the child to a doctor and a medical report later stated that she had a mild bruise below her nostril. The father filed a police report two days later and asked to see the CCTV footage of the incident. Saiidah's employment at the school ended on Nov 14, 2023, and she was arrested on April 18, 2024. On July 28, the prosecutor asked the court to sentence her to up to a year and four months' jail, stressing that the case involved a vulnerable victim who was only 20 months old at the time. He also said Saiidah was in a position of trust when she committed the offence. Defence lawyer Deepak Natverlal told the court that Saiidah had acted in an uncharacteristic manner and is remorseful. He added that his client could not explain the reasons behind her offence, and had felt that her then workplace was not child-centric. Saiidah's bail has been set at $15,000, and she is expected to begin serving her sentence on Aug 18. - The Straits Times/ANN
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CNA
3 days ago
- CNA
Jail for preschool teacher who deliberately tripped toddler four times
SINGAPORE: A former preschool teacher who repeatedly tripped a toddler at a childcare centre was sentenced to nine months and two weeks' jail on Monday (Jul 28). Saiidah Kamarudin, 34, earlier pleaded guilty to one of two counts of ill-treating the girl, who suffered bruises to her face and bled from her nose. The other charge was taken into consideration for her sentencing. The victim and the childcare centre cannot be named to protect the girl's identity. Saiidah began working for the childcare centre in end-September 2023, but she submitted her resignation the following month. Her employment lasted until mid-November. On the day of the incident in November, Saiidah had taken the 20-month-old girl to the toilet slightly after noon to clean her up. As the girl stood before her, Saiidah, who was seated, swept her leg outwards to catch the toddler's foot, causing the girl to stumble. After this, Saiidah swept her leg inwards, causing the toddler to fall backwards onto the floor. The teacher then lifted the girl to her feet and cleaned her face with a tissue. As the two were headed out of the toilet area, Saiidah repeated the sweeping motion twice. The latter incident caught the toddler on both legs and caused her to fall on her face. Saiidah's actions were captured by a closed-circuit television camera (CCTV). The footage was played in court. SENTENCING ARGUMENTS The prosecution urged the court to sentence Saiidah to a jail term of between 15 and 16 months. Deputy Public Prosecutor Cheah Wenjie said the case represented a "disturbing breach of trust by a childcare professional who deliberately and repeatedly tripped a 20-month-old toddler in her care". "Such calculated violence against a defenceless toddler who was entrusted to the care of the accused strikes at the heart of public confidence in Singapore's early childhood sector," said Mr Cheah. The prosecution pointed out that the victim had bled from her nose and suffered bruises and swelling on her face. He also described the offence as "deliberate and calculated" in nature. "The accused had committed the offences in the private toilet area of the school premises, which was separated by a wall from the rest of the school, making detection particularly difficult. The victim, being unable to speak, could not inform anyone of the offences," Mr Cheah told the court. Saiidah's lawyer, Deepak Natverlal from Crown Juris Law, argued that a jail term was not warranted. He sought the maximum fine of S$8,000 (US$6,250), and for the court to order that she execute a bond of good behaviour for a period. Alternatively, Mr Natverlal argued for a jail term of no more than three months, and a fine of S$5,000. He said that Saiidah, a mother of two, started working at the childcare centre with a view to enrolling her children there. However, she found the curriculum unsuitable and tendered her resignation. Mr Natverlal laid out the circumstances behind Saiidah's resignation, saying these "showed that the accused felt that there were matters in the school that were not child-centric". He said Saiidah had attempted to highlight these matters to the management to ensure that the children's interests and welfare were not compromised. Instead, she felt "quietly aggrieved" when her words went unheeded. "The accused felt unwelcome at this place. The present staff had their own cliques. The accused felt like an outcast from the beginning ... she felt the staff did not take her seriously and made her feel that she was not good enough to do the lesson plans for the children, which, on the contrary, she was capable of doing as she had worked ... before as a pre-school teacher," said Mr Natverlal. The lawyer also cited a defective water heater, poor quality meals for the children, poor hygiene practices and extensive TV exposure as a few other problems she experienced while working at the childcare centre. His client also felt that there was a lack of welfare for teachers like her, who had two young children. Despite these challenges, Saiidah still "endeavoured to do her best" as a teacher, the defence lawyer said. "As a mother of two very young children, the accused feels aggrieved that her actions had led to the child being injured in the manner that she suffered. "The accused acknowledges that she could have behaved better and that it was a solitary incident wherein she had lost her sense of judgment," Mr Natverlal said, adding that Saiidah was remorseful.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Jail for former pre-school teacher who tripped toddler repeatedly, causing child to bleed from nose
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Saiidah Kamarudin was sentenced to nine months and two weeks' jail on July 28. SINGAPORE – A former pre-school teacher was sentenced to nine months and two weeks' jail on July 28 for tripping a 20-month-old girl four times. Saiidah Kamarudin's actions caused the child to fall on her face during one instance, causing a nose bleed. Saiidah, 34, who has two children of her own, had pleaded guilty in June to one count of ill-treating the toddler . Before handing down the sentence, District Judge Tan Jen Tse noted that the young victim could not articulate what the offender had done to her. He also said that Saiidah had demonstrated persistence and stopped tripping the girl when the child became injured. In earlier proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Cheah Wenjie told the court that the Singaporean committed the offence shortly after she tendered her resignation on Oct 12, 2023. Details about the pre-school have been redacted from court documents. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole backfilled; road to be repaved after LTA tests Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Authorities say access to Changi intertidal areas unaffected by reclamation, in response to petition Singapore SIA flights between S'pore and Cambodia, S'pore and Thailand, operating normally amid border dispute Singapore Police statements by doctor in fake vaccine case involving Iris Koh allowed in court: Judge Singapore New Mandai North Crematorium, ash-scattering garden to open on Aug 15 Singapore Not feasible for S'pore to avoid net‑zero; all options to cut energy emissions on table: Tan See Leng Singapore With regional interest in nuclear energy rising, S'pore must build capabilities too: Tan See Leng On Nov 6 that year, Saiidah was tasked to help take care of a playgroup which included the victim. Shortly before 12.30pm, she took the little girl to the toilet area. While cleaning the child's face, Saiidah used her right leg to sweep outwards from her left to her right, catching the victim's left leg and tripping her. The court heard that the toddler stumbled but did not fall down. Saiidah immediately used the same leg to trip the toddler for the second time, causing the child to fall backwards onto the floor. Saiidah picked the girl up and resumed cleaning her face. They were about to walk out of the area when Saiidah positioned herself behind the child. Using a similar method, she tripped the toddler for the third time. The child stumbled forward but did not fall, the court heard. The girl managed to regain her balance and walked forward, with Saiidah behind her. At 12.30pm, Saiidah tripped the toddler again. This time, the victim fell down on her face and started crying. Saiidah picked her up, and another teacher who heard the cries came over to check on the child. In June, the prosecutor said: 'At this juncture, the victim was bleeding from her right nostril, and there was a bruise under the victim's nose.' A CCTV camera at the school captured Saiidah committing the offence. On Nov 8, 2023, the victim's parents took her to a doctor and a medical report later stated that the child had a mild bruise below her nostril. The father filed a police report two days later and asked to see the CCTV footage of the incident. Saiidah's employment at the school ended on Nov 14, 2023, and she was arrested on April 18, 2024. On July 28, the prosecutor asked the court to sentence her to up to a year and four months' jail, stressing that the case involved a vulnerable victim who was only 20 months old at the time. He also said that Saiidah was in a position of trust when she committed the offence. Defence lawyer Deepak Natverlal told the court that Saiidah had acted in an uncharacteristic manner and is remorseful. He added that his client could not explain the reasons behind her offence, and had felt that her then-workplace was not child-centric. Saiidah's bail has been set at $15,000, and she is expected to begin serving her sentence on Aug 18.
Malay Mail
16-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Singapore preschool teacher admits to tripping toddler, causing facial injuries
SINGAPORE, June 16 — A preschool teacher in Singapore who repeatedly used her leg to trip a toddler under her care, causing the child to fall and injure her face, pleaded guilty in court today. According to Channel News Asia (CNA), Saiidah Kamarudin, 34, admitted to one count of ill-treating a 20-month-old girl, an offence under the Children and Young Persons Act. A second charge will be considered during sentencing. The child, who cannot be named due to a court order, suffered facial bruises and a nosebleed after Saiidah deliberately swept her legs under her on several occasions at the childcare centre where she worked. Her actions were captured on CCTV footage, which was played in court. The incident took place in November 2023, just weeks after Saiidah began working at the centre. She had joined in late September and resigned the following month, ending her employment by mid-November. According to court proceedings, Saiidah took the toddler to the toilet shortly after noon and, while seated, wiped her face with tissue. During this, she intentionally swept her leg outward to hook the toddler's foot, causing her to stumble. Moments later, she swept her leg inward, causing the girl to fall backwards. Saiidah picked the child up, wiped her face again, and placed her in front of her to leave the toilet area. But she repeated the motion, tripping the child once more. At around 12.30pm, she used her leg again — this time catching the child on both legs. The toddler fell face-first onto the ground and began to cry. Another teacher, alerted by the child's cries, stepped in to administer first aid. The girl was later put down for a nap, but by the time she awoke, the right side of her face had visibly swollen. A subsequent medical examination confirmed she had sustained mild facial bruising. The child's father filed a police report several days later after feeling dissatisfied with the school's explanation of his daughter's injuries. He also requested access to the CCTV footage from the day of the incident. Saiidah initially claimed trial but changed her plea to guilty on the first day of proceedings. She is scheduled to return to court on July 28 for mitigation and sentencing. If convicted, she could face up to eight years in jail, a fine of up to S$8,000 (RM26,500), or both.
