Man, 61, allegedly slaps woman outside Tampines childcare centre & throws her stroller into bushes

A 61-year-old man allegedly slapped a woman twice and threw her stroller into a bush during a dispute outside a childcare centre in Tampines.

Police are conducting investigations.

The incident occurred on the morning of Jul. 24 at Block 878 Tampines Avenue 8, reported to Shin Min Daily News.

Two days of conflict

According to a nearby resident who spoke to Shin Min, the two had a dispute the evening before on Jul. 23 at around 6pm.

He heard a loud argument from downstairs and recognised the voice of his male neighbour.

He told Shin Min: "They argued for a while, and the man kept shouting loudly and hurled vulgarities at her. There was no physical contact then. However, the next morning I heard them arguing again, and this time the police were involved.”

The resident said he did not go downstairs the second time, but later ran into the woman and noticed she looked distressed.

She told him she had been slapped twice and had made a police report.

According to the resident, the woman had parked her stroller in the middle of the walkway in front of the childcare centre, which he believed may have obstructed the man's path and triggered his frustration.

The resident noted that the area is a busy spot where children often sit to change their shoes and parents gather to wait for their children after school.

However, he pointed out that it was not raining that day and the corridor was wide enough for people to pass.

"I think everyone should be considerate. There was no need for things to escalate like this, especially arguing loudly and using vulgarities in front of so many young children," he said to Shin Min.

Stroller thrown into bushes

The woman confirmed the incident to Shin Min when reporters visited the childcare centre on Jul. 27.

She said she did not know the man personally, and that he was not a parent of any child at the centre.

After the argument on Jul. 23, the man returned the next day.

He claimed the woman's stroller was blocking the walkway and threw it into a bush.

The woman told Shin Min that her child was so frightened by the incident that she was reluctant to go to school afterwards.

Sparkletots responds

A PCF Sparkletots Preschool spokesperson told Mothership that it was aware of the incident and was still gathering information, and was unable to comment further.

The centre added that it was fully cooperating with police investigations.

In photos published by Shin Min, a "No strollers allowed" sign was pasted on the window of the kindergarten.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police confirmed that they received a call for assistance at around 9:35am on Jul. 24 regarding a case of assault at Block 878 Tampines Avenue 8.

A 61-year-old man is currently assisting with investigations.