A 37-year-old man was sentenced to 14 weeks in jail on September 30 after pleading guilty to assaulting a four-year-old boy and using criminal force. The incident occurred in March at a pre-school in Singapore, involving the man’s son and one of his son’s classmates.

Muhammad Firdhaus Mokhtar assaulted the child after the boy made a lewd hand gesture toward him. According to court statements, Firdhaus approached the child at the school’s bus stop, which was crowded with children, parents, and caregivers. He grabbed the boy by the right arm, confronted the child, and demanded that the child’s parents be informed that such gestures were unacceptable.

The victim attempted to pull away but was unsuccessful. Firdhaus then pulled the boy by the collar, slapped him multiple times on his cheeks and ear, and threatened to break the child’s finger. The man also warned he would return on the following Monday. During the confrontation, he swung the child backward by his arm, causing the boy to fall to the ground. Several children witnessed the event, and it was captured on a police camera.

The victim’s mother told the court that her son had suffered emotional trauma following the assault. She said the boy experienced nightmares, became fearful about Mondays, and showed a decline in confidence. The family later transferred him to another pre-school, but the child has yet to fully recover from the ordeal.

Medical treatment was sought immediately after the incident at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, which also alerted authorities. Following an investigation, Firdhaus was arrested and charged with one count each of assault and using criminal force.

The judge ordered Firdhaus to pay $170 in compensation to cover the victim’s medical expenses. During sentencing, Firdhaus apologized for his actions. Deputy Public Prosecutor Etsuko Lim detailed the sequence of events leading to the assault, noting that it took place around noon on March 6, a Friday.

Firdhaus’s actions prompted concern among parents and the school community, highlighting the vulnerability of young children in such environments. The case underscores ongoing challenges in ensuring the safety and well-being of children at pre-schools.