Singapore Mother Sentenced After Shockingly Using Phone Charger on Daughter
In a bizarre turn of events, a 39‑year‑old Chinese mother was handed a 10‑day short‑detention order after she turned her own phone charger into a slapstick weapon against her eight‑year‑old daughter. The case, steeped in domestic drama, has drawn a lot of public attention, especially given the young victim’s privacy is protected by a gag order.
The Incident That Got Him in Court
- Who: The mother, currently holding a long‑term visit pass, and her little 8‑year‑old daughter.
- When: August 10, 2018 – roughly noon at the mother’s massage outlet.
- What happened:
- The girl’s phone had run out of battery.
- She asked her mom to charge it, but the mom, deep in the middle of a client session, told her to wait or go home.
- Annoyed and shouting, the girl became a neon‑bright harbinger of chaos.
- In a flash, the mom pinched the girl’s buttocks and then hammer‑fashioned the charger’s cable all over the girl’s arms and lower back, leaving visible red streaks.
- Later that night, the mother went home and, as if on a circus schedule, knocked the girl’s head with her hand.
- Detection: The following evening, a child protection officer discovered red, cane‑like streaks on the girl’s body. She reported pain and the incident, leading the officer to a hospital visit and a police report.
- Liability: The mother faced a charge for voluntarily causing hurt, with three other charges tossed into the mix during sentencing.
Background Before the Incident
- The girl lived under a voluntary care arrangement, only allowed to return home for weekend visits.
- She was removed from her mother’s care and placed under interim protection from May 31, 2017, to July 27, 2018 – a period with no recorded reason behind it.
Legal Process & Outcome
- Sentencing: District Judge Teo Guan Kee recommended a 14‑day short‑detention order, a kind of “quick sand” of punishment that avoids a permanent criminal record.
- The short‑detention premise: The mother spent a brief period in custody, but afterward won a clean slate – a mercy nudging her away from the stigma of a criminal dossier.
- Judge’s rationale: He noted the offence occurred while the daughter was on weekend home leave. Yet he saw potential for rehabilitation, framing the matter as a domestic issue rather than a criminal ordeal.
- Case notes: Medical reports highlighted erythematous marks, abrasions, and bruises on the girl’s arms, forehead, buttock, and lower back – colours that did not escape the medical eye.
Why This Matters
Beyond the courtroom drama, this episode underscores the fragility of the child‑protective system and how unforeseen remorse can convert a domestic quarrel into a legal micromanagement. The 10‑day short‑detention order offered the mother a second chance, but it also left a stark reminder: a misplaced charger can become a shockingly lethal souvenir when tempers flare.
Final Note
Originally reported by The Straits Times, the story has captured the public’s imagination. While the mother has been granted a brief custodial stint, the daughter’s anonymity remains shielded by a gag order, a reminder of the sensitivity that accompanies child‑involved cases.
