Latest news with #Saiidah
AsiaOne
a day 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
Straits Times
2 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.
