Overview:
In 2020, an 11-year-old girl in Singapore was the victim of severe child abuse, leading to her tragic death. Her stepfather, Mohamad Fazli Selamat, and her mother, Roslinda Jamil, were charged and later sentenced for their roles in the abuse and manslaughter of the girl.
Background:
The girl was born in 2009 to Roslinda Jamil when she was just 16. Roslinda, struggling as a single mother, eventually married and had two more sons. However, her first marriage ended due to abuse. She later married Mohamad Fazli Selamat, an auxiliary police officer, and moved in with him in May 2019. They married in April 2020 and had a son in August 2020. From March to November 2020, the girl was subjected to repeated abuse by Fazli, often over trivial matters such as eating slowly or making mistakes in her homework. The abuse included physical beatings with various objects and forcing the girl to eat chili padi until she vomited.
Events Leading to Death:
On 6 November 2020, Fazli severely beat the girl with an exercise bar, causing her to fall unconscious. Despite her severe injuries, including bleeding from her ear and a swollen head, the couple did not seek medical help, fearing repercussions. Over the next few days, her condition worsened. On 9 November, the girl collapsed and became unresponsive. Despite attempts to revive her, she was pronounced dead on 10 November 2020. An autopsy revealed multiple injuries, including skull and rib fractures, and the cause of death was determined to be fatal head injuries from the assault.
Legal Proceedings:
The couple was arrested and initially charged with murder. However, the charges were later reduced to manslaughter and child abuse. Roslinda was also charged under a new law for allowing the death of her daughter. In February 2024, after pleading guilty, Fazli was sentenced to nearly 16 years in jail and 12 strokes of the cane, while Roslinda received a jail term of seven years and eight months.
Societal Impact:
This case, along with other high-profile child abuse cases in Singapore, has brought significant attention to the issue of child abuse. It has highlighted the difficulties in detecting and preventing such abuse and underscored the importance of societal vigilance and protective measures for children. The government has since taken steps to enhance child welfare and curb abuse, emphasizing the collective responsibility of society in safeguarding children's well-being.
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