Public Prosecutor v DAM: Sentencing for Culpable Homicide, Rioting, Drug Offenses, and Child Abuse
In Public Prosecutor v DAM, the High Court of Singapore sentenced DAM on September 19, 2023, for culpable homicide of his 2½-year-old daughter, child abuse against his stepson, rioting, and drug consumption. The court imposed a total sentence of 21½ years' imprisonment and 18 strokes of the cane, emphasizing the severity of the crimes and the need for deterrence. The charges included violence against vulnerable children and disregard for the law.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
General Division of the High Court of the Republic of Singapore1.2 Outcome
Sentenced to 21½ years' imprisonment and 18 strokes of the cane.
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Sentencing Remarks
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
DAM was sentenced for culpable homicide of his daughter, child abuse, rioting, and drug consumption, highlighting the court's abhorrence of violence.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Prosecution | Government Agency | Sentence imposed | Won | Wong Woon Kwong SC of Attorney-General’s Chambers Norine Tan Yan Ling of Attorney-General’s Chambers Phoebe Tan Hern Hwei of Attorney-General’s Chambers Asran Abdul Samad of Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| DAM | Defendant | Individual | Sentenced to imprisonment and caning | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Aedit Abdullah | Judge of the High Court | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Wong Woon Kwong SC | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Norine Tan Yan Ling | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Phoebe Tan Hern Hwei | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Asran Abdul Samad | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Ramesh Chandr Tiwary | Ramesh Tiwary |
| Si Hoe Tat Chorng | Acacia Legal LLC |
| Harjeet Kaur Dhaliwal | Withers KhattarWong LLP |
4. Facts
- The accused killed his 2½-year-old daughter by slapping her face multiple times.
- The accused failed to provide medical aid to his daughter after assaulting her.
- The accused admitted to child abuse against his stepson, including hitting and slapping him.
- The accused pleaded guilty to rioting, punching, and kicking a victim in the middle of a road.
- The accused admitted to consuming methamphetamine.
- The accused burned his daughter's body and concealed her remains.
- The accused lied to a Ministry of Education officer about his daughter's whereabouts.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v DAM, Criminal Case No 30 of 2022, [2023] SGHC 265
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Criminal Case No 30 of 2022 filed | |
| Sentencing Remarks issued | |
| Sentences to run from this date |
7. Legal Issues
- Culpable Homicide
- Outcome: The court imposed the maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Infliction of gratuitous violence
- Failure to provide medical assistance
- Related Cases:
- [2011] 3 SLR 833
- [2018] 1 SLR 127
- Child Abuse
- Outcome: The court imposed a sentence of three years’ imprisonment.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Physical suffering
- Ill-treatment of a child
- Related Cases:
- [2018] 1 SLR 127
- [2022] 2 SLR 825
- Rioting
- Outcome: The court imposed a sentence of 2½ years’ imprisonment and three strokes of the cane.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Disturbance of public peace
- Violence in public
- Drug Consumption
- Outcome: The court imposed a sentence of six years’ imprisonment and three strokes of the cane.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Consumption of controlled drugs
- Violation of bail conditions
8. Remedies Sought
- Imprisonment
- Caning
9. Cause of Actions
- Culpable Homicide
- Child Abuse
- Rioting
- Drug Consumption
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Law
- Sentencing
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor v AFR | High Court | Yes | [2011] 3 SLR 833 | Singapore | Cited for guidance on sentencing |
| Public Prosecutor v BDB | High Court | Yes | [2018] 1 SLR 127 | Singapore | Cited for guidance on sentencing in abuse cases |
| Public Prosecutor v Azlin bte Arujunah and other appeals | High Court | Yes | [2022] 2 SLR 825 | Singapore | Cited for comparison of sentences in abuse cases |
| ADF v Public Prosecutor and another appeal | High Court | Yes | [2010] 1 SLR 874 | Singapore | Cited for guidance on the totality principle in sentencing |
| Public Prosecutor v Raveen Balakrishnan | High Court | Yes | [2018] 5 SLR 799 | Singapore | Cited for guidance on the totality principle in sentencing |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| s 304(b) of the Penal Code | Singapore |
| Children and Young Persons Act (Cap 38, 2001 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
| s 5(5)(b) of the Children and Young Persons Act | Singapore |
| s 147 of the Penal Code | Singapore |
| s 8(b)(ii) of the Misuse of Drugs Act | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Culpable Homicide
- Child Abuse
- Rioting
- Methamphetamine
- Sentencing
- Gag Order
- Violence
- Deterrence
- Vulnerable
- Defenceless
15.2 Keywords
- culpable homicide
- child abuse
- rioting
- drug consumption
- sentencing
- singapore
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Criminal Law | 95 |
| Culpable Homicide | 95 |
| Offences | 90 |
| Rioting | 90 |
| Misuse of Drugs Act | 85 |
| Children and Young Persons Act | 85 |
| Criminal Procedure | 80 |
| Sentencing | 80 |
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Sentencing
- Child Protection