Father In Rat Poison Case Jailed For Two Years

A father who tried to force his eight-year-old daughter to drink rat poison last year has been jailed for two years.

The man had earlier pleaded guilty to wilfully assaulting a child before the High Court.

The court said the man, known only as CSK to protect the child’s identity, acted impulsively and irresponsibly. But it also took into account that the child did not suffer permanent injuries and acknowledged that the accused had acted out of character.

The abuse took place in February last year when CSK returned home drunk. His sister was present at the time and prevented the girl from drinking the poison. CSK then grabbed the girl by the neck and threatened to kill her. The sister then called the police.

The defendant’s lawyer had said during mitigation that his client was faced with financial pressures and family issues. His wife and daughter also wrote to the court asking for leniency.

The wife and daughter were present in the court to show their support for CSK as the judge delivered the sentence. The court also received a letter from his daughter, who turned 10 on Wednesday, that her birthday wish was to reunite with her father.

Justice Maggie Poon said threats against children are frowned upon by the society as one of the most dreadful crimes. But the task of sentencing in this case, she said, was "particularly difficult".

She said apart from evaluating the demands from the justice system and expectations of the community at large, the court also had to look at what's best for the victim and the family.

She told CSK that he should never vent his emotions against innocent and helpless children. She also described alcohol as a solvent that could dissolve families and careers if misused.

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