SINGAPORE - A dishwasher who attacked the father of his girlfriend's child was jailed for seven months on Tuesday.

Muhammad Khairul Mohammad Taha, 30, went to collect the six-year-old from her biological father Mr Faizalizam Rosli as he was preparing his grandmother's funeral.

But before the 32-year-old could explain to him that she was under the care of his mother, Zulraimi Zanil, 44 - Khairul's co-accused - punched him in his right eye.

Khairul then joined in the attack as his own mother Esah Amat, 55, and girlfriend Nurfaeza Mohd Arshad, 26 - Mr Faizalizam's ex - looked on.

The two men later punched and kicked Mr Faizalizam after he tripped and fell.

During the attack, Esah used the handle of a long umbrella to "hook" the victim's hands away when he tried to block the punches. She also used the umbrella to hit him in the chest.

Nurfaeza stepped on the victim's hand more than once as she demanded to know where her daughter was.

Khairul found a discarded glass dish nearby and handed it to Zulraimi who smashed it on Mr Faizalizam's head, causing it to shatter.

Mr Faizalizam was left with bruising on his forehead, eye and lip and a fractured right eye socket.

Khairul's lawyer Leon Koh Weijin (assigned) said his client went there to retrieve his girlfriend's daughter, whom he almost considers to be his "flesh and blood".

He added: "The offence was a by-product of his rage when he realized that the girl was not at the scene."

Mr Koh said his client had shown remorse by making voluntary compensation to the victim.

Zulraimi is currently serving seven months in prison for a similar offence while Esah was given a 12-month conditional warning in June. Nurfaeza's case is pending.

The maximum penalty for causing grievous hurt is 10 years' jail, fine or caning.