Domestic helper jailed for hitting seven-month-old baby

A domestic worker was handed nine months' jail on Aug 26 for hitting a seven-month-old baby multiple times earlier in 2025.

Osaya Mevil Rosales, 26, pleaded guilty to one amalgamated charge of ill-treating the infant. She had hit the child on the thigh or arm on five occasions from February to March, bruising him on one occasion.

The court heard that the Filipina was hired by the victim's family in July 2024, with the primary responsibility of caring for the victim. The first incident of ill-treatment occurred in early February when Osaya was feeding the infant at about 8am.

The infant was crying, and Osaya found it difficult to manage him.

A hired nanny was also in the room with Osaya and the infant, and was talking on the phone.

Osaya told the nanny to lower her volume, but was ignored. This angered Osaya, who took it out on the baby by hitting him on the right thigh. A similar incident occurred on Feb 21, when Osaya hit the infant's left arm. The episode was recorded on video by the baby's part-time nanny, who was also in the room.

On March 3, the infant was crying and refused to drink his milk. The surroundings at the time were also very noisy, which frustrated Osaya. Angered, she hit the baby on the right thigh.

On the same day, the nanny sent the Feb 21 video to the victim's mother, who asked her husband's personal assistant to file a police report. Osaya was arrested, and released on bail on March 4.

The baby was taken to National University Hospital for a medical examination, which revealed he had sustained a 4cm by 6cm bruise on his right thigh.

The prosecution had asked for eight to 10 months' imprisonment for Osaya, arguing that the victim was defenceless and dependent on her for his well-being. They added that the ill-treatment may have never been discovered because it was impossible for the victim to report the abuse.

In sentencing, District Judge Luke Tan noted that Osaya had expressed her regret in a handwritten letter, which cited personal circumstances and difficult working conditions. But he said: "The repeated acts of violence were clearly a pattern of behaviour, and it is a clear and blatant breach of the fundamental duty and care she was employed to provide."