A 34-year-old preschool teacher in Singapore has pleaded guilty to deliberately tripping a 20-month-old girl under her care, causing the toddler to fall and sustain facial injuries.
Saiidah Kamarudin admitted to one count of ill-treating the child on 16 Jun 2025 at the State Courts. She initially claimed trial but eventually pleaded guilty on the first day after some delay.
Teacher’s Brief Employment and CCTV Evidence of Abuse
Saiidah began working at the childcare centre in late September 2023 but tendered her resignation the following month. Her employment lasted until mid-November 2023, spanning just over a month.
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The victim attended the centre’s playgroup class and cannot be named due to a court order protecting her identity. The childcare centre she attended also cannot be identified.
Saiidah’s actions were captured on closed-circuit television camera footage, which was played during court proceedings. The CCTV evidence showed her deliberately sweeping her legs under the toddler multiple times.
Deliberate Tripping Incidents Lead to Injuries and Medical Attention
The incident occurred in November 2023, when Saiidah took the toddler to the toilet shortly after noon to clean her up. While seated, Saiidah used a tissue to wipe the face of the standing girl.
Saiidah swept her leg outwards to catch the toddler’s foot, causing her to stumble. She then swept inwards with her leg, tripping the toddler who fell backwards onto the floor.
The teacher, who was significantly larger than the toddler, lifted the girl back to her feet before continuing to clean her face with tissue. She positioned the victim in front of her to walk out of the toilet area.
Saiidah swept her foot to catch the victim on one leg, causing her to stumble again. At approximately 12:30pm, she repeated the sweeping motion with her leg, catching the toddler on both legs. The toddler fell forward on her face.
The victim began to cry after this fall. Saiidah picked her up, but the toddler bled from one nostril and had a bruise on her face.
Another teacher heard the cries and came to check on the girl. This teacher performed first aid on the victim before placing her down for a nap. By the time the toddler woke up, the right side of her face had swollen up.
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A doctor who examined the toddler following the incident found that she had sustained mild bruises on her face.
Father Files Police Report After Dissatisfaction with School’s Explanation
The toddler’s father filed a police report several days later, expressing dissatisfaction with the school’s explanation of how his daughter sustained her injuries.
He requested access to the school’s CCTV footage from the day of the incident.
Saiidah faces one count of ill-treating a child under the Children and Young Persons Act. A second charge will be considered during sentencing.
She is scheduled to return to court on 28 Jul 2025 for mitigation and sentencing.
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For ill-treating a child under the Children and Young Persons Act, an offender can be jailed up to eight years, fined up to S$8,000, or both.
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