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| The Filipinas was ordered jailed by an Eastern Court magistrate |
A Filipino domestic helper identified in court documents only as A.J.B., was sentenced to five months imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of ill-treatment of a child in Eastern Court on Friday.
The 41-year-old helper admitted to pulling the limbs
of her 11-month-old ward, then pushing her onto the bed, causing the child’s
head to hit the mattress. The incidents were recorded on home surveillance
video.
In mitigation, A.J.B., who had been employed for less
than three months by her employer who lives in Happy Valley, said she had difficulty
adjusting to her work environment.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
Through her counsel, the helper also said she was remorseful,
and that a medical assessment showed the baby suffered no severe injuries.
Nevertheless, Principal Magistrate David Cheung
Chi-wai condemned the helper’s actions, noting the child’s age made her
particularly vulnerable.
He also said the incidents were not isolated, as the
CCTV footage showed the defendant repeatedly pulling the baby’s limbs and
striking her back. This, he said, indicated a serious violation of trust that
warranted an immediate custodial sentence.
The abuse was uncovered on Nov 25 last year after
the child’s grandmother saw an unusual shaking in the baby, who also vomited. The
grandmother alerted the infant’s mother, who immediately checked the home’s
CCTV and saw what had happened.
The police were called and A.J.B. was arrested.
In sentencing, the magistrate used a starting point
of seven and a half months or prison, then reduced it to five months on account
of the defendant’s guilty plea.
The court was previously told that the baby was born
in December 2024, and that the helper was hired to work in the household in
August 2025.
