A Taiwanese national who allegedly caused distress to his wife by saying that he would take their three sons to Taiwan to sell them off was charged in court yesterday.

The 52-year-old man is said to have committed the offence at a Housing Board flat in the northern part of Singapore at about 11pm on Sunday.

He also faces two other charges.

He is accused of committing an act so rashly as to endanger life and the personal safety of others by putting his two-year-old son on the railing of the eighth-floor corridor on Oct 18 last year.

That same day, he allegedly pulled his wife's hair, punched her face and head, and kicked her in the stomach.

The accused, who cannot be named to protect his victims, told the court that he is claiming trial.

District Judge Ronald Gwee allowed him to make three local phone calls to arrange for a bailor.

A bail of $15,000 was allowed. His passport was impounded.

A pretrial conference is scheduled for Oct 12.

If convicted under the Protection from Harassment Act, the accused faces a fine of up to $5,000 and/or a jail term of up to six months.

The maximum penalty for committing a rash act is six months' jail and a $2,500 fine; and for voluntarily causing hurt, two years' jail and a $5,000 fine.