Angry that the school’s student welfare officer had nudged her son in the back, a Singaporean mother rained punches on the woman’s head in full view of other parents and children.

The 49-year-old mother was jailed for six weeks on Tuesday (25 September). She had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of causing hurt to a public servant.

She cannot be named to protect her seven-year-old son’s identity.

The incident occurred on 19 May last year as the mother, who worked as an administrative officer, was sending her son to his primary school in the south. She had sent him to the gate but her son was taking his time as he was reluctant to go to school.

The student welfare officer then approached the mother and son. She used her hand to nudge the boy on his back, hurrying him to the assembly hall as he was about to be late.

Upon seeing the officer’s actions, the mother became infuriated. She punched the officer’s face. She then shouted at the officer while punching both sides of her face. Many other parents and students were present at the time, according to the prosecution.

The officer apologised to the mother and informed the school management about the incident. The police were called and the officer was brought to Singapore General Hospital for treatment. She sustained jaw pain from the altercation.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Quek Jing Feng asked for two months’ jail for the mother, whom he said had carried out a fairly persistent attack without being provoked. The punches were directed at a vulnerable part of the body, said DPP Quek.

The DPP also noted that the mother had been previously jailed a week for using criminal force on a public servant.

In mitigation, lawyer Ng Boon Gan said that his client had overreacted as she felt her son was being mishandled and abused by the school staff. He added that the attack was not serious as it did not result in visible injuries.

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