19-9-2023 (SINGAPORE) In a shocking case that has left the nation in disbelief, a man has been sentenced to 21½ years in prison and 18 strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to culpable homicide for causing the death of his two-year-old daughter, Umaisyah, by slapping her and failing to provide medical aid. Additionally, he admitted to three other charges, including ill-treatment of his six-year-old stepson, rioting, and methamphetamine consumption. Five other charges were considered during sentencing.
The gruesome details of the crime are disturbing. After consuming drugs, the man fatally slapped his toddler daughter. In an attempt to destroy evidence, he and his wife burnt her body in a metal pot. The charred remains were placed in a cardboard box, sealed with masking tape and cling wrap, and hidden under the kitchen stove. For over five years, the couple deceived their family and authorities about Umaisyah’s whereabouts.
The horrific crime came to light in 2019 when the woman’s younger brother, increasingly curious about the contents of the box, defied her warning and opened it. He showed what he found to the woman’s friends, who were so disturbed by the discovery that they immediately contacted the police.
High Court Judge Aedit Abdullah, during sentencing, described the man’s actions as “callous, vicious, and heinous.” He emphasized the importance of remembering Umaisyah by her name and acknowledged that she was robbed of any opportunity to grow up and lead a fulfilling life.
