SINGAPORE - A foreign domestic worker who vented her frustration at her employer's baby girl was sentenced to six weeks' jail on Tuesday (June 2) for causing hurt to the child.
Lalkhawngaihi, a 24-year-old Indian national, admitted to dropping the nine-month-old baby from a height of 15cm into her baby cot and then forcefully pulling her hand to drag her out of the cot which resulted in the baby suffering a 1.5cm irregular red patch around her armpit.
The offence happened at a flat in Choa Chu Kang on April 10 this year.
As Lalkhawngaihi's sentence was backdated to April 13, she is deemed to have completed her jail term.
The court heard that Lalkhawngaihi was hired in August last year to take care of the infant.
Some time in April this year, she was instructed to feed the baby whenever she woke up between 3am and 5am.
At about 4.30am that day, the baby woke up and began crying.
Lalkhawngaihi woke up and carried the child for a while before she dropped the baby into the cot from a height of about 15cm.
She did this as she was angry and frustrated at the victim for crying and disturbing her sleep, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Winston Man.
The victim became quiet for a while but started crying again shortly after. This time, Lalkhawngaihi pulled the baby's right hand to drag her out before leaving the room together with the victim to get some milk.
By then, the victim's parents had been awakened by the child's cries. They went through the CCTV footage and discovered what the accused had done.
Her female employer reported the incident to the police the next day.
Lalkhawngaihi said she was sorry and asked the court for one more chance. She also said she wanted to return home to look after her mother.
She could have been jailed for up to two years and/or fined up to $5,000.
