S'pore man, 36, to be charged in court for allegedly slapping boy, 4, at Woodlands bus stop

The police will be charging a 36-year-old man in court on Apr. 7, 2026 for his suspected involvement in voluntarily causing hurt, using criminal force, and causing intentional harassment against a four-year-old boy.

This comes after the police were alerted at about 4:50pm on Mar. 6, 2026, by KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), of an alleged assault on a four-year-old boy who sustained injuries to his cheek.

Pre-school in Woodlands

According to an Apr. 6, 2026 police news release, officers from Woodlands Police Division established the identity of the man through follow-up investigations and arrested him on the same day.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had allegedly slapped the boy at a bus stop outside a pre-school in Woodlands.

Penalties

Following this, the man will be charged with one count of voluntarily causing hurt with enhanced penalties for offences against persons below 14 years of age under the Penal Code 1871.

The release noted that this offence carries a jail term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to S$5,000, or with both.

With the enhanced penalties, the court may sentence the person convicted of the offence to punishment not exceeding twice the maximum punishment that the court could impose.

The man will also be charged with one count of using criminal force with enhanced penalties for offences against persons below 14 years of age under the Penal Code 1871.

This offence carries a jail term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to S$1,500, or with both.

With the enhanced penalties, the court may sentence the person convicted of the offence to punishment not exceeding twice the maximum punishment that the court could impose, the release noted.

In addition, the man will be charged with one count of intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress under Section 3(2) of the Protection from Harassment Act 2014, which carries a jail term of up to six months, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.

Related articles

Top photos from the boy's family and Google Maps street view