A new shocking case have just surfaced in Singapore, one which is similar to that of Annie Ee. Only this time, the victim is a helpless 5 year old child and the torturers are Rizwan Mega Abdul Rahman and Azlin Arujunah, couple and parents to the poor boy. The child was tortured over a period of 4 months and had burns over 67% of his body. The timeline below depicts the sequence of torture leading to the child's death as quoted by TODAY newspaper:

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July 2016:

Ridzuan is accused of using a pair of pliers on two separate days to pinch the boy’s buttocks and thighs several times, causing bruises.

August 2016:

Azlin allegedly hit the boy with a broom on his body, back and legs, after he denied knocking over a biscuit tin and scattering biscuits on the kitchen floor. This left marks on his stomach and caused him to develop a limp and a misaligned kneecap.

Azlin allegedly pushed the boy on his shoulder, causing him to fall and hit his head on the edge of a pillar.

End-August to early September 2016:

Ridzuan is said to have heated a metal spoon over the stove and burned the boy’s palm with it, after Azlin told him to “deal with” the boy.

October 2016:

Ridzuan purportedly burned the boy’s palm again with a heated metal spoon.

Ridzuan allegedly flicked cigarette ash from a lit cigarette on the boy’s arms when he refused to answer him, and used a hanger to hit him on the palm when he denied stealing milk powder.

Oct 15 to 17, 2016:

Azlin allegedly grabbed the boy by his ankle to prevent him from running away, filled a glass with hot water from a dispenser, poured it over his right leg three times and over his hand about five times. The boy’s skin began peeling and blisters formed on his chest, shoulder and leg.

Oct 17 to 19, 2016:

Azlin is said to have grown angry when the boy shouted: “Are you crazy or what?” in Malay when she splashed hot water on him. Both Azlin and Ridzuan then allegedly threw several more cups of hot water at him.

Ridzuan is said to have burned the boy’s palm again with a heated spoon, after finding out he had stolen milk powder to eat.

Oct 19 to 20, 2016:

Azlin purportedly threatened to splash the boy with hot water when he refused to answer their questions, but did not as he was standing near the Internet cables. She then allegedly pushed him forcefully, causing his head to hit the wall and bleed.

Ridzuan then allegedly punched the boy in the face.

Oct 21 to 22, 2016:

The couple is accused of confining the boy in a cat cage, which measured 70cm in height, 58cm in width and 90cm in length. The boy was 105cm tall.

Oct 22, 2016:

Ridzuan allegedly hit the boy with a broom on his head, hands and legs to make him take off his shorts for a bath. When the boy was in the toilet, Ridzuan then allegedly threw cups of hot water at him while Azlin shouted for the boy to take off his shorts. The boy fell forwards onto the floor and stopped moving after Ridzuan allegedly poured more water over his back.

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It baffles me time and time again how can such beasts be in our supposedly safe country. This time, these beasts are on trial for murder and they should be convicted to the death penalty. Honestly, even death is a privilege for them for treating a helpless child this way. The torturers of Annie Ee got away with a mere jail sentence for torturing a victim leading to her death but this time, the law have to be firm. DO NOT, I repeat let these type of beast get away with excuses such as mental illnesses because it is such an outdated excuse to mitigate for a lower sentence. If everyone claimed being mentally ill, where are the justice for these victims?

Once again, I understand it might not be easy, but I do hope that our fellow Singaporeans could be more vigilant towards their neighbors/surroundings.Intervening when you feel that someone is facing suspected abuse could save a life. Can you imagine if it is your child or family member falling prey to such torturers?

In this sad case, the victim was a five year old child who was not even grown enough to make decisions, all the more fight for himself against his monster parents who poured hot water on him uncountable times and even confined him to a metal cage meant for a pet. It also makes me wonder why no one was aware of such abuse? Did he not attend school? So many unanswered questions in my mind. I guess only the news updates would let us know.

Thank you for taking your time to read this.