Officer from welfare home gets fine after elbowing, kicking 10-year-old boy in prayer hall

On August 31st, a court ordered a 43-year-old Singaporean officer with a history of working at a welfare home since 2018 to pay a fine of S$8,000 for mistreating a 10-year-old boy. The officer, who practiced martial arts, pleaded guilty to ill-treating the child under his care. Due to gag orders, the victim, the welfare home, and the officer cannot be named.

The incident unfolded when a resident spotted the boy climbing a parapet on the second floor of the home on August 11th, 2025. The welfare officer, a resident supervisor, confronted the boy about the act. Later, the boy went to the prayer hall with 16 other residents. The officer, perceiving the boy smirking at him, used Hokkien profanities and threatened the boy with saliva, claiming the camera was not working.

The officer then struck the boy with his elbow, causing him to fall, followed by kicking and pushing the boy, leading to a fall onto his back and buttocks. The incident was captured on closed-circuit television cameras. The victim received medical treatment for tenderness but was discharged the same day.

The prosecution sought a S$6,000 to S$8,000 fine, emphasizing the vulnerability of the young person entrusted to the officer's care. The defense lawyer, Mr. Rajan Supramaniam, argued for a lower fine, asserting that his client had been a good officer throughout his tenure at the home. Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan emphasized the aggravating factors, including the officer's abuse of authority, betrayal of his role, and premeditation.

However, the judge noted that the welfare home still valued the man's services, and the man had no history of abuse. The judge stressed the maximum fine possible, and warned that reoffending could result in imprisonment. Under Singaporean law, the officer could have faced up to eight years in jail or a fine of S$8,000, or both.