Police probe alleged incident at Lucky Plaza where domestic worker told child to kiss elderly man for cash

SINGAPORE: Police have launched an investigation into an incident at Lucky Plaza where a foreign domestic worker allegedly instructed a young child under her care to kiss an elderly man for money.

The authorities confirmed a report was lodged on 09 March 2026.

The event took place at Lucky Food Centre, located in the basement of the shopping mall, on 08 March approximately 2:45pm.

A witness, Francis Michael, 56, reported seeing a group of four or five workers seated with a young girl.

According to Michael, the child appeared to be of African-American descent and was approximately three to four years old.

He observed an elderly Chinese man seated at the same table who allegedly began waving a S$5 note at the young child.

Michael stated that the domestic worker instructed the girl to take the money and kiss the man.

Witness intervenes during alleged second attempt

After the child kissed the man on the cheek, the individual reportedly produced a S$50 note two minutes later to encourage a second kiss.

Upon seeing the worker continue to pressure the reluctant child, Michael intervened to stop the interaction.

He reportedly reprimanded the worker, stating that her role was to protect the child rather than forcing her to kiss strangers for financial gain.

The domestic worker reportedly challenged Michael to contact the police and claimed the child’s father would not object to the situation. She allegedly told Michael that the matter was not his business before eventually fleeing the scene with the child.

Confrontation with elderly man and bystander

Michael also confronted the elderly man, questioning the legality and ethics of using money to solicit physical affection from a minor.

The man reportedly defended his actions and signalled to another individual, described as a tattooed man, to intervene.

The third individual reportedly told Michael to back off, while the elderly man argued in a Chinese dialect that the situation did not concern the witness. Michael maintained that any matter involving the welfare of a child is a public concern.

“ I told him again sternly that as long as a child is involved, I will step in, no matter what, " he wrote.

Food centre manager acknowledges police visit

The manager of Lucky Food Centre, who requested anonymity, told local media Mothership that police officers visited the establishment on 10 March. The manager stated he was present during the day of the incident but did not witness the specific interaction.

While the manager acknowledged the presence of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, he declined to release it to the media.

He noted that the elderly man is a regular customer who visits the food court frequently, sometimes on a daily basis.

The manager suggested the incident might have been a misunderstanding.

He expressed a desire to protect the privacy of the regular customer, suggesting that some elderly individuals may not immediately grasp the serious legal consequences of such actions.

Following the confrontation, the domestic workers and the child left the premises while the elderly man remained at the table.

Incident shared online sparks discussion on child protection

Michael subsequently shared the details of the encounter on social media to raise awareness about child protection in Singapore.

Michael said the country values multiculturalism, promoting mutual respect and tolerance among all races, religions, and backgrounds in a democratic society.

"But one thing I will not tolerate, is someone abusing a child. Not in Singapore. Not on my watch."

Netizens largely praised Michael for intervening and making a police report, expressing support for the investigation and efforts to protect the child.

Some Filipino domestic workers also voiced concern that the alleged actions of one helper could damage the reputation of others who emphasised their duty to safeguard children under their care.