6 youths gang up to beat girl, 13, in Paya Lebar with baseball bat & belt: Teen assailant, now 20, pleads guilty

One of the six young assailants who ganged up to beat a 13-year-old with baseball bats and belts in 2024 has been sentenced to at least 12 months in a reformative training centre.

The accused, Cai Jia Xin (transliteration), who is now 20 years old but was 18 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to one count of voluntarily causing hurt, according to Shin Min Daily News.

Accused swung hammer at victim

The 13-year-old victim was assaulted by a group comprising three other girls, then aged 12, 13 and 18, as well as three boys, then aged 14, 16 and 18.

The assault began on Aug. 10, 2024, after the victim met up with the group.

Shin Min reported that the accused, Cai, did not participate in the assault initially, but stayed over at the condo with the group.

The next morning, Cai and the other perpetrators ordered the victim to sit on the ground before assaulting her again.

She also threatened the victim with a hammer and waved it at her, which grazed the victim's right arm.

Cai and two other individuals also stepped on the victim's stomach.

Background

On Aug. 10, 2024, the victim contacted the 13-year-old perpetrator, saying she missed her boyfriend after their break-up and that she was invited by him to join their gathering.

The perpetrator then told the rest of the group that she was dissatisfied with the victim, and they decided to teach the victim a lesson.

After the victim met up with them, they walked to the 14-year-old boy's home at a condominium near Paya Lebar MRT, where they planned to spend the night.

After arriving at the condo's side door, the group suddenly surrounded the victim.

A few of them punched and kicked the victim while the rest kept watch.

When they entered the condo's stairwell, they continued assaulting the victim.

The assault continued after they entered the house.

The victim was hit in the head, arms and abdomen with a plastic baseball bat.

She was also whipped on her back with a belt.

The victim did not retaliate throughout the assault.

The next day, the group then went shopping at Haji Lane, but left the victim at a stairwell in Golden Mile Complex for fear that other members of the public would notice her injuries.

The victim took the chance to flee home and her father alerted the police afterwards.

A 16-year-old boy was previously charged for the assault, and he pleaded guilty on Oct. 17, 2025.