SINGAPORE – A former air-conditioning technician who ill-treated his girlfriend’s seven-year-old daughter repeatedly and threatened her, was sentenced to three months and two weeks jail by a district judge on Thursday (May 5).

Aminnuddin Siregar Aminullah Siregar, 29, pleaded guilty to three charges – of criminal intimidation and pinching the girl on her left thigh, slapping her on the face and forcefully rubbing chilli padi on her mouth – all of which took place last year.

Another three charges were taken into consideration.

The State Courts heard that on Jan 12 last year, Aminnuddin felt that the girl – who cannot be named to protect her identity – was behaving disrespectfully towards him when they were in a flat. The girl was the daughter of her mother’s previous husband.

Aminnuddin suspected that it was his girlfriend’s sister who instigated her to do so. The 29-year-old then punished the girl until she told him who taught her to “show attitude”.

He made the girl do half-squats for about 15 minutes and placed a lit cigarette near her private parts for a few minutes. The incident was witnessed by the girl’s mother and aunt.

The next day, at about 9.30pm, the girl’s aunt told Aminnuddin that she intended to report the incident to the police. At that time, the girl’s mother, the girl and another aunt was in the flat.

In anger, Aminnuddin told the girl’s mother in Malay, “You all tell the police and before the police arrive, all of you will die by my hand.”

Afraid of what he might do, the girl’s mother called the police.

Within a month, he abused the girl again. In the afternoon of Feb 10 last year, Aminnuddin picked up the girl from her primary school. When he met the girl’s teacher, he was told that the girl said there was no one at home to guide her in her studies.

Aminnuddin became unhappy with the girl and pinched her left thigh. He also slapped her hard on her left cheek twice.

When they reached home, the girl’s mother said she wanted to bring the girl out for lunch. However, Aminnuddin forbade her from leaving the flat.

He later slapped the girl’s face again and shouted at her. He then took some chili padi and forcefully rubbed it on her lips.

The girl’s mother who witnessed the incident left the flat to call the police. Aminnuddin continued to rub more chili padi on the girl’s lip until the police arrived at the flat.

That same day, the girl was sent to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital as she suffered several injuries.

Deputy public prosecutor Kong Kuek Foo urged the court for a jail sentence of between three and four months.

Aminnuddin, who was unrepresented, said he was sorry for his actions and was “under stress”. He told the court that his girlfriend, who is now his fiancé, is three months pregnant.

In sentencing, district judge Luke Tan said it was a “cruel act”. “You are going to be a father, I hope you take (the) time to reflect on what you have done,” he added.

His sentence has been backdated to March 28.

For criminal intimidation, Aminnuddin could have been jailed up to two years, or fined, or both. For ill-treating a child, the maximum punishment is a S$4,000 fine or jail of up to four years or both on each charge.