A 37-year-old man has been sentenced to 14 weeks’ jail after assaulting a four-year-old boy who had shown him a lewd hand gesture.
Muhammad Firdhaus Mokhtar pleaded guilty to one count each of voluntarily causing hurt and using criminal force. He was sentenced on Wednesday (30 September) and ordered to pay S$170 in compensation for the boy’s medical expenses.
The child cannot be identified because of a gag order. He was a schoolmate of Firdhaus’ son at the time of the incident.
Man Followed Boy to Bus Stop
The incident happened at around noon on 6 March 2026.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Etsuko Lim told the court that Firdhaus had gone to his son’s pre-school, where his son was playing with the four-year-old boy.
After the boy showed Firdhaus a lewd hand gesture, Firdhaus called him over. Instead, the child headed towards his domestic helper, who was waiting at a nearby bus stop.
Firdhaus followed him there and grabbed the boy by his right arm.
The bus stop, near Block 875 Woodlands Street 82, was crowded with other pre-school children and their families at the time.
Firdhaus told the helper to inform the boy’s parents that he should not make such a gesture. He also threatened to slap the child, prompting the helper to apologise.
The boy then tried to hide behind a pillar.
Firdhaus pulled him out by his collar and struck his right cheek with the back of his hand. While continuing to hold the boy’s arm, he also slapped the child on the left side of his face and ear.
The boy fell and experienced ringing in his left ear.
Threatened Boy Before Swinging Him by His Arm
The helper attempted to pull the child away.
Firdhaus, however, continued holding the boy’s arm and threatened to break his finger. He also said he would return for the child the following Monday.
He then swung the boy backwards by his arm, causing him to stumble, before finally letting him go. Several other pre-school children witnessed what happened, while the assault was also captured by a police camera.
The boy was crying when he returned home.
His parents took him to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital that same day. The hospital subsequently alerted the police, and Firdhaus was arrested.
The child also stayed away from school for several days after the assault.
Mother Says Boy Still Has Nightmares
Addressing the court on 30 September, the boy’s mother said her son continues to suffer from nightmares.
She said he began asking about Mondays after Firdhaus threatened to return for him on a Monday, and that his confidence had fallen since the incident.
The child eventually moved to another pre-school, and his mother said he had not completely recovered from what happened.
Firdhaus apologised in court for his actions.
