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Kinderland Singapore’s device ban at its premises triggers backlash amid child mistreatment allegations

Kinderland Singapore’s ban on personal devices during teaching has triggered online backlash after covertly recorded videos emerged depicting child mistreatment by teachers at the preschool. Two educators have been arrested in connection to the incidents. The school’s move is seen as prioritizing image over child welfare, leading to heated discussions among netizens.

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1 year ago

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SINGAPORE: Kinderland Singapore has prohibited its staff from using personal devices while teaching starting immediately on Wednesday, (30 Aug).

This decision has sparked negative reactions from online commentators.

The preschool has faced significant criticism this week after two covertly recorded videos went viral, depicting purported mistreatment of children by teachers within its premises.

“To safeguard our children’s privacy, Kinderland has in place company-issued devices to manage all communications with parents. This includes sharing photos and videos through a Pre-School Management App to inform parents of their child’s progress,” said Kinderland Singapore in a statement posted on Facebook on Wednesday.

Kinderland has barred its staff from using personal devices during teaching hours. (Photo: KINDERLAND SINGAPORE/Facebook)

“To also prevent the misuse of photos and videos of our children, Kinderland will now make it a policy that staff not use their personal devices during teaching hours. We hope that these measures will better protect all,” it said.

Consequently, two teachers have been arrested in relation to the occurrence – one from the Kinderland Woodlands preschool, and another from a separate Kinderland establishment situated at Sunshine Place in Choa Chu Kang.

Kinderland preschool at Woodlands

A set of videos, initially posted by a user named Claudia Tan, gained traction on Facebook on August 28.

The initial Facebook post has been removed, as confirmed by Claudia Tan on August 29.

However, a number of Facebook users were able to save the video and went on to share it again.

These videos portrayed a female teacher allegedly mistreating students, which reported to have occurred at Kinderland Preschool @ Woodlands Mart.

Law enforcement took the 33-year-old individual into custody on August 29, and filed charges related to the mistreatment of a child or young person, as reported by Gutzy Asia.

Kinderland preschool at Sunshine Place

On Tuesday, Aug 29, a new video has surfaced showing another case of child mistreatment happening at a Kinderland establishment.

The incident purportedly took place at a Kinderland preschool at Sunshine Place in Choa Chu Kang.

In this second incident, the video showed the teacher smacking a boy on the head several times and pushing him away.

Another child is seated on a chair in front of the teacher, and the woman has her legs up on the chair on either side of the child.

CNA reported that the 48-year-old woman had been arrested on Tuesday, Aug 29, for voluntarily causing hurt read with enhanced penalties for offences against person below 14 years of age.

This was the second arrest of a preschool teacher this week for allegedly mistreating children under their care.

Both cases involved preschools from the Kinderland chain.

Kinderland’s new policy irk netizens

A user who goes by OkTaro8212 on reddit posted a picture of what appears to be Kinderland Singapore’s earlier statement on Facebook.

They said, “as a parent, it just irks me to my core. The whole abuse (both Woodlands and CCK) was uncovered by a whistle blower who took the video using his/her personal phone.

“And to suddenly implement a new no photos/no videos policy just shows that they are more interested in keeping their image than the kids welfare.”

A user who feels similarly responded, noting that the “management (are) clearly doing this to shift blame away from themselves,” and “only pretending to care,” they said.

Another user said that it’s obvious the management doesn’t care about taking care of and keeping the kids safe.

Given the circumstances, their response only occurred once the teacher’s conduct was uncovered.

A user mentioned that without the intervention of the whistleblowers, the children could have remained subjected to inhumane treatment.

“The company should be thanking (the whistleblowers) for helping them rid themselves of one abusive employee,” they said.

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Crime

Singaporean fugitive deported from Thailand, to be charged with drug trafficking

A Singaporean fugitive arrested in Thailand, was deported to Singapore on 19 September 2024 and faces drug trafficking charges. Authorities expect him to face the death penalty under Singapore’s tough drug laws for running a smuggling operation between Thailand, Australia, and Singapore.

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44 mins ago

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19 September 2024

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A 31-year-old Singaporean man, wanted for drug trafficking offences, was arrested in Thailand and deported to Singapore on 19 September 2024.

The fugitive, identified as Benny Kee Soon Chuan, was apprehended by Thai police at his residence near Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and will face charges in court on 20 September.

Kee, described as a high-level trafficker, ran a smuggling operation that trafficked crystal methamphetamine, ketamine, and Ecstasy to Australia and Singapore using Thailand as a transit hub, according to Pol Lt Gen Panurat Lakboon, secretary-general of Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).

Cross-Border Investigation and Arrest

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) of Singapore had issued an arrest warrant for Kee following investigations into two drug trafficking cases in December 2020 and November 2022.

He had been on the run since 11 April 2016, prompting CNB to collaborate with its international counterparts, including the ONCB. Thai authorities were tipped off by CNB on 12 August 2024, and after weeks of investigation, Kee was apprehended on 17 September.

Thai immigration officials revealed that Kee had entered Thailand earlier in 2024 using a Vanuatu passport.

Following his arrest, Kee’s Thai visa was cancelled, and assets worth 15 million baht (S$585,000), including luxury watches, gold pieces, and a luxury car, were seized during a raid on his residence in Samut Prakan.

Lt Gen Panurat confirmed that the fugitive had been living an affluent lifestyle in Thailand despite lacking legitimate employment.

Links to Broader Drug Network

Kee is believed to be linked to other Singaporean traffickers involved in the smuggling of drugs from Thailand.

In March 2021, Thailand’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Force (AITF) intercepted packages containing Ecstasy and ketamine destined for Singapore, as well as crystal methamphetamine bound for Australia.

Two other Singaporean men, aged 21 and 29 at the time of their arrests, were later sentenced to imprisonment and caning in Singapore for their involvement in these operations, which were connected to Kee’s trafficking network.

Death Penalty Under Singaporean Law

Kee’s deportation to Singapore brings him under the jurisdiction of Singapore’s severe drug laws, which prescribe the death penalty for those convicted of trafficking substantial amounts of controlled substances.

Singaporean authorities have indicated that he could face the death penalty under the country’s strict drug trafficking laws. Pol Lt Gen Panurat indicated that Singaporean authorities are expected to seek the maximum penalty for Kee’s alleged offences.

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Crime

Islamic firm CEO among 19 arrested in Malaysia’s charity home abuse scandal

The CEO of Islamic firm Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) and his wife were among 19 arrested by Malaysian authorities on Thursday for alleged child abuse linked to their charity homes. Last week, police rescued 402 children from these homes. Investigations revealed a horrifying network of abuse, with at least 13 children allegedly sodomised or taught to sexually assault others.

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5 hours ago

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19 September 2024

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MALAYSIA: In a major crackdown, Malaysian police have arrested several members of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) top management, including CEO Nasiruddin Ali and his wife.

The arrests were made in a special operation conducted by Bukit Aman’s criminal investigation department at multiple locations.

As of 19 September, total of 19 people were detained, including the CEO’s two children and the child of former Al-Arqam leader Ashaari Muhammad.

Among those arrested are 12 men and seven women, aged between 30 and 65.

Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain confirmed the arrests and promised to provide updates soon.

The arrests come on the heels of a significant child sexual abuse scandal involving GISBH.

Last week, police rescued 402 children from 20 welfare homes linked to the organization in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

They also arrested 171 people, including an ustaz and a hostel warden.

The case sent shockwaves throughout the country as investigations revealed a horrifying network of child abuse.

At least 13 of the rescued children were allegedly sodomized or taught to sexually assault others.

GISBH initially denied operating the welfare homes and rejected the allegations of abuse.

However, Nasiruddin later admitted that cases of sodomy had occurred within the organization in the past, while denying any deviant teachings.

In a related development, three men linked to GISBH pleaded not guilty in a Seremban court to charges of sexually assaulting boys aged between nine and 11 at a religious school associated with the organisation.

The alleged assaults took place between 2022 and 2023 in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan.

Additionally, another man was charged in Putrajaya for allegedly threatening a woman to withdraw a police report against GISBH.

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