IT IS an age-old disciplinary method used by parents here to scare mischievous children into behaving - the small, but extremely spicy chilli padi being rubbed on their lips.

A teacher at a childcare centre in Ang Mo Kio did just that to a child left under her charge in May last year.

But things went terribly wrong when the boy, aged four then, ended up with rashes on his face and neck. His mouth and lips were also left mildly red after coming in contact with his teacher's chilli-stained hands.

The sight of the boy's red face and watery eyes prompted his mother to lodge a police report after she picked him up from the centre.

At 7pm that day, his teacher Hasanah Ahmad, 25, noticed the boy about to throw a wooden stick playfully in the direction of her three-year-old son, who also went to the same centre.

She panicked and shouted at him to put the stick down before taking him to a classroom to reprimand him. Instructing him to wait there, she switched off the lights and left. She returned with a packet of chilli padi and threatened to make him eat it when he refused to look at her.

The boy kept quiet initially but started struggling when she tore open the packet and pointed at the fiery chilli padi. During the scuffle, the contents came into contact with his mouth and face.

Another teacher heard the commotion and walked in to see chilli padi on the floor and red patches around the boy's lips.

Hasanah pleaded guilty yesterday to ill-treating the boy and causing him unnecessary suffering.

The prosecution and Hasanah's lawyer Pritam Singh Gill both said it is believed to be the first case where a childcare centre teacher is charged with abusing a child under her care.

Hasanah sat sullenly in the dock while Mr Gill pleaded with District Judge May Mesenas for a light sentence. He said his client committed the 'unorthodox and unprecedented' offence when she was four months pregnant and suffering from depression and anxiety. The mother of three, who has a diploma in pre-school education, has had two miscarriages in the past, he added.

At the time of the incident, her stress levels were up because she had two new children in her class of 12 students who needed special attention.

'She was unable to control her emotions. She had never behaved in such a manner before,' he said.

Hasanah had offered the boy's mother $2,000 in compensation, but the parent had rejected it after accepting her apology.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Cheryl Kam said: 'The law must not condone acts of abuse in childcare centres, particularly in view that there is entrustment.'

Ms Kam urged the court to ensure that Hasanah, who is currently unemployed, does not find a job where she has to deal with children. She had worked at the childcare centre since 2005 and was fired in May last year after the incident.

Judge Mesenas asked Mr Gill to make arrangements for his client to undergo appropriate counselling.

Hasanah will be sentenced on Friday. Her 27-year-old husband, a policeman, as well as other family members were present in court yesterday.

sujint@sph.com.sg