Domestic helper arrested over suspected assault on boy
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Police are investigating a suspected child abuse case in Kowloon City after a five-year-old boy was allegedly improperly treated inside a flat at 97 Hau Wong Road on October 8. Initial police findings indicated that a 37-year-old foreign domestic helper allegedly struck the boy with her hand. The child remained conscious but complained of facial pain and was sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for examination. The helper, identified by police as a 37-year-old Filipino domestic worker, was arrested on suspicion of ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of a child or young person and was being detained for inquiries
Key Points
- The case came to light after the boy's mother reported to police at about 11pm to 11.57pm on October 8 that her son was suspected to have been mistreated.
- The incident was reported to have taken place inside a residential unit at 97 Hau Wong Road in Kowloon City.
- Officers who arrived at the scene said preliminary inquiries suggested the 37-year-old helper had used her hand to assault the five-year-old boy.
- The boy was conscious after the incident, but he complained of pain to his face and was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for checks.
- Police arrested the helper for suspected ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of a child or young person, and Kowloon City district crime squad Team 1 is following up
Why It Matters
The case concerns the safety of young children in home care settings, where alleged abuse may only surface after a parent notices injuries or hears an account from the child. The police response and hospital examination will be central to determining what happened and whether charges will proceed in a case involving a caregiver inside a family home.