S'pore male youth worker, 28, gets 9 weeks' jail after beating up boy, 12, in children's home

A 28-year-old youth worker in Singapore was sentenced to nine weeks' jail on Oct. 29 after he physically assaulted a 12-year-old boy in a children's home.

He had hit and kicked the boy multiple times over a prior dispute which was not disclosed in court, reported The Straits Times (ST).

The youth worker pleaded guilty and cannot be named due to a gag order to protect the identities of the boy and the children's home.

Pushed boy off chair, dragged him and hit him repeatedly

Before the physical assault, the youth worker and the boy had gotten into an unspecified dispute that caused "lingering disagreement."

The youth worker then assaulted the boy on Nov. 10, 2024, when the boy was watching television in the home.

He had shoved the boy in the chest, causing him to fall from his chair and hit a nearby wall.

The worker then dragged the boy away before striking and kicking him repeatedly.

CCTV footage showed the boy screaming in pain and shaking his head as the assault continued for more than three minutes.

The boy only sought medical attention on Nov. 28 but no injuries were detected by then.

Court proceedings did not reveal how the assault was revealed.

"Worker should have remained calm": Prosecution

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mark Chia sought a sentence of 11 to 12 weeks for the youth worker, noting that he had abused his position of authority.

"Regardless of whether the victim antagonised him, the accused, being more than twice the victim's age, should have remained calm instead of descending into juvenile thuggery," he added.

The youth worker, who was unrepresented, said: "I am very remorseful for what I did and I should have been more sensible."

He was granted a deferment of his sentence to attend his grandmother's birthday and will begin serving his sentence on Nov. 10.

Top photos via Canva & by Mothership