Verdict is out on SG abusive couple who killed 2-year-old son: and you won’t like it

The couple who tortured and killed two-year-old Daniel were finally sentenced to jail earlier today, with many Singaporeans expressing their outrage at the seemingly “light” sentence.

Daniel’s mother Zaidah was sentenced to 11 years in jail, while her boyfriend Zaini Jamari was sentenced to 10 years in jail and 12 strokes of the cane.

A horrific case of child abuse
For five weeks before his death, Daniel endured a constant stream of physical abuse from his mother and her boyfriend. He was kicked and slapped around daily, and forced to stand with his hands on his head for hours at a time.

When he was tired from standing all day and wanted to take a break, Zaini took him to the kitchen and forced dried chilli down his throat. That happened twice times throughout the day.

After suffering from hours of abuse, Daniel eventually died of his injuries on 23 November last year.

“The first time I held my son was at his funeral”

Mr Nasser, Daniel’s father, was in jail when Daniel was born. He was looking forward to meeting his son upon being released but was unable to get in touch with Zaidah.

On 26 November, he received a call from a police officer, who asked if he had a son named Daniel. Mr Nasser said yes, excited at the prospect of finally being reunited with his son after 2 long years.

But then, the officer told him the heartbreaking news of Daniel’s death.

“I did not even get to see Daniel alive, and now they called me to identify his dead body,” Mr Nasser said in an interview with the Straits Times.

Breaking down outside the courtroom, Mr Nasser expressed his disappointment over the leniency of the couple’s sentences: “My son remains dead.”

Daniel’s caretaker, Mdm Masita Hussin, was also dissatisfied with the verdict. Tears were streaming down her face as she sat outside the courtroom, clutching Daniel’s shoes and pacifier to her chest.

On weekdays, Mdm Masita would care for Daniel, and Zaidah would pick him up when the weekend came. But one weekend Zaidah never brought Daniel back, and just like that, neither of them saw Daniel ever again.

Netizens were furious at the verdict: many of them thought that it was way too lenient since Daniel actually lost his life due to the couple’s actions. Others were sickened that a mother could do that to her own flesh and blood.

For causing grievous hurt that results in death, the couple could have been jailed for up to 10 years and given a caning or fine. For child abuse, they could have been imprisoned for up to 4 years and/or fined up to S$4,000 for each charge.

This article was first published on goodyfeed.com