Man who allegedly ill-treated baby before she died now accused of failing to protect her
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SINGAPORE – A man who allegedly ill-treated a two-month-old baby, before she was found with a fractured skull and died, was handed an additional charge on Monday and is now accused of failing to protect her.
A gag order on the man’s identity was also lifted following Zabelle Peh Yu Xuan’s death.
Peh Wei Jian, 31, is accused of ill-treating the baby – an offence under the Children and Young Persons Act.
He is also accused of causing or allowing the death of a child below 14 years old belonging to the same household as himself.
Peh had allegedly slapped Zabelle in a flat at Block 363C Sembawang Crescent at around 1.30am on Jan 5.
In 2018, Peh married Sim Liang Xiu, who is accused of murdering the baby on Jan 8.
Sim, 29, was initially accused of causing grievous hurt to Zabelle by forcefully dropping her into a cot, causing a skull fracture, in another unit at the same block of flats between 9pm and 10pm that day.
This assault charge was upgraded to that of murder last Friday, following the infant’s death.
According to court documents, Peh and Sim were members of the same household and had frequent contact with Zabelle.
Peh’s latest charge states that he ought to have been aware of the nature and intensity of Sim’s prior alleged acts of abuse of the infant.
Details about these alleged earlier acts of abuse were not disclosed.
Peh had allegedly failed to take steps to protect the baby on Jan 8.
Court documents did not disclose when the baby died. They also did not state how the pair were related to the child.
Peh, who intends to engage a lawyer, will be remanded at the Central Police Division.
His case will be mentioned again next Monday.
If convicted of ill-treating a baby, an offender can be jailed for up to eight years and fined up to $8,000.
Those found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child below 14 years old in the same household as themselves can be jailed for up to 20 years, and fined or caned.
Sim has been remanded at the Central Police Division, and her case has been adjourned to Friday.
Offenders convicted of murder can either face the death sentence or be jailed for life with caning.
Women cannot be caned.
