A 37-year-old man has been sentenced to 14 weeks in jail for assaulting a four-year-old boy who had made a lewd hand gesture at him outside a pre-school in March in Singapore.
Muhammad Firdhaus Mokhtar pleaded guilty on Sept 30 to one charge of assault and another involving the use of criminal force against the child, who was a schoolmate of his son.
The court also ordered Firdhaus to pay $170 in compensation to cover the boy’s medical expenses.
The incident occurred at about noon on March 6, a Friday, when Firdhaus went to his son’s pre-school. The boy was playing with Firdhaus’ son when he made a lewd hand gesture towards the older man.
Firdhaus called the child over, but the boy moved towards his domestic helper, who was waiting at a nearby bus stop.
Firdhaus followed him to the bus stop, where several other pre-school children and their families were present. He grabbed the boy by his right arm and confronted the helper, telling her to inform the child’s parents that the gesture was unacceptable.
The boy struggled to free himself, while Firdhaus threatened to slap him. The helper subsequently apologized.
The frightened child attempted to hide behind a pillar, but Firdhaus pulled him out by his collar and struck his right cheek with the back of his hand.
He then held the boy by his right arm while hitting his left cheek and left ear with his other hand. The child fell to the ground and later experienced ringing in his left ear.
The domestic helper tried to intervene and pull the boy away.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Etsuko Lim told the court that Firdhaus continued to hold the boy’s arm and threatened him.
“Still gripping (the victim’s) right arm, the accused shoved a finger in his face, threatened to break his finger, and shouted that he would return…on Monday.”
Firdhaus then swung the boy backwards by his arm, causing him to stumble, before finally letting go and leaving the area.
Several children at the pre-school witnessed the incident. A police camera also recorded the assault.
The boy was crying when he returned home and was taken to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital the same day. Hospital staff subsequently alerted the police, leading to Firdhaus’ arrest.
The child remained away from school for several days following the incident.
Addressing the court on Sept 30, the boy’s mother said she was deeply troubled by what had happened and that her son continued to suffer nightmares.
She said he had also repeatedly asked about Mondays after the incident and that his confidence had declined.
Firdhaus was ultimately sentenced to 14 weeks’ imprisonment and ordered to pay the $170 medical compensation.
