Maid gets three months jail for committing obscene act with toddler
By Gamar Abdul Aziz, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 04 August 2007 0239 hrs

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SINGAPORE : A 29-year-old Indonesian maid has been sentenced to three months' jail (with effect from 23 June 2007) for committing an obscene act with a two-year-old boy.

The maid, known as "Acih", was naked from the waist down when she caused her genital area to be in contact with the child's groin area.

The child was completely naked at that point.

District Judge Wong Kee Onn pointed out that this is an offence under Section 7 of the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA), Chapter 38.

The court heard that the accused committed the offence because she was angry with the child's mother, who was also her employer, for taking away her mobile phone.

The maid had also initially claimed that she was "unhappy with her employer for making her eat pork against her religious wishes" and "for forcing her to work in two households in one day".

But at a hearing, the court found that these were untrue and the maid voluntarily retracted these statements.

Experts have also certified that the accused "did not have psychotic signs or symptoms" and did not have a mental disorder.

The accused pleaded guilty and said she was sorry for what she had done.

But the judge said the obscene act was revolting and offensive.

It was also a deliberate act and that the accused was in a position of trust.

Judge Wong added that young children must be protected.

Any obscene act that is committed against any child, especially involving a young child's private parts, is bound to evoke severe condemnation.

Since children are vulnerable, the court wants to deter the accused and others who have entrustment of young children from committing this sort of offence.

The maid could have been jailed for up to two years or fined $5,000 or both. - CNA /ls