TODDLER Muhammad Izzul Salihin Muhammad Farzid received the beating of his life from his mother's boyfriend Firdaus Abdullah on his third birthday last year.

He was punched repeatedly in the face and had his head slammed into a door frame. Firdaus, 27, even sank his teeth into the boy's penis and scrotum. Four days later, Muhammad Izzul died in hospital from severe head injuries.

About this case FIRDAUS Abdullah, 27, was originally accused of grievously hurting Muhammad Izzul Salihin Muhammad Farzid by punching him forcefully on the back of his head in January last year. When the three-year-old died on Jan 18 last year, the charge was upgraded to one of murder, although the capital charge was later withdrawn. ... more

Yesterday, Firdaus was jailed for seven years and ordered to be caned 12 times for his actions. The prosecution described the case as 'one of the worst and most egregious cases' of child abuse here.

Firdaus, who was unemployed at that time and living with his girlfriend in her flat near Chin Swee Road, was jealous that his girlfriend was closer to her son than she was to him.

He would take his frustrations out on the boy whenever he cried.

On Jan 12 last year, Firdaus used his fist to hit the boy's head with so much force that his knuckle swelled.

The boy had been crying because Firdaus insisted on drying him with a towel after washing him in the toilet. The boy had earlier soiled his diapers.

The next day, the couple had a heated quarrel during which the boy's mother, Ms Nadiyana Yacoub, 26, told Firdaus to leave and said that she wanted to find her son a better stepfather.

A day later, on Muhammad Izzul's birthday, Firdaus set on the boy again when he cried for his mother, who was out settling her divorce.

Firdaus punched the child several times on the face, forehead and chin. He then lifted the boy, swung him in the air and slammed his head against the edge of the door frame with great force.

Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times