Therapist fined S$5,000 for dragging 4-year-old boy with Asperger’s syndrome to floor

On October 28, a therapist in Singapore was fined S$5,000 for violently dragging a 4-year-old boy with Asperger's syndrome from his seat to the floor. The incident occurred after the boy repeatedly slapped the therapist, causing her glasses to fall off. The therapist, a 29-year-old behavior specialist, was attending classes with the boy twice a week at his home when the altercation took place.

The boy's parents had installed a CCTV camera to monitor the sessions, despite the child's frequent outbursts. During the class, the therapist was holding a book when the boy refused to sit still and attempted to take it from her. This led to a series of violent exchanges, including the therapist's glasses being knocked off, the book being thrown, and the boy repeatedly slapping and striking her.

Despite warnings from the therapist, the boy continued to lash out and even grabbed her glasses. The therapist was fired following the incident, which was caught on camera by the parents. The prosecution argued that the boy was not injured and the therapist's actions were not justified, stating that other methods could have been used to address the boy's behavioral issues.

The judge fined the therapist $5,000 for her violent response. Separately, a woman who had been illegally residing in Singapore for over 19 years surrendered to authorities with her husband, leading to her six-month imprisonment and a S$2,000 fine.