Five-year-old Ayeesha and her brother endured years of severe abuse, neglect, and confinement, leading to her death and her father’s historic sentencing.
SINGAPORE: A 44-year-old man has been sentenced to 34.5 years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane for killing his five-year-old daughter, Ayeesha, and subjecting her and her younger brother to prolonged abuse. The children endured severe physical violence and confinement in degrading conditions, with Ayeesha ultimately dying from head injuries inflicted by her father.
Calling the case “unprecedented,” Justice Aedit Abdullah underscored the abhorrent nature of the abuse and the necessity of a severe sentence to reflect societal outrage and deter similar offenses.
The man, who cannot be named due to gag orders protecting the surviving sibling, initially faced a capital murder charge but pleaded guilty to reduced charges, including culpable homicide, child abuse, and evidence tampering.
Prolonged Abuse and Neglect
The abuse began in 2015 when Ayeesha was three, and her brother was two. The siblings were subjected to daily beatings and confinement in small spaces, including a 90cm by 90cm “naughty corner” and later a toilet. They were often deprived of food and resorted to eating their own faeces out of hunger.
The violence escalated over time, with CCTV footage shown in court capturing the man delivering 86 blows to Ayeesha in a single incident. In another instance, he struck both children while they sat restrained in a pram.
Ayeesha’s death occurred in August 2017 after her father slapped her up to 20 times in the face for failing to follow orders. The next day, she was found unresponsive in the toilet.
Attempts to Conceal Evidence
Following her death, the man disposed of CCTV cameras, canes, and other evidence before taking Ayeesha’s body and her brother to the hospital. He initially lied to police about the circumstances of her injuries, only admitting the truth days later when confronted with evidence.
Ayeesha’s Legacy
Justice Abdullah allowed Ayeesha’s first name to be revealed “so that society may remember her.” The case has prompted reviews of child welfare protocols by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Ayeesha’s brother, who survived but suffered severe malnutrition and developmental delays, has since been placed in foster care.
This tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance, compassion, and systemic safeguards to protect vulnerable children.
