A former preschool teacher Lin Min has pleaded guilty to multiple counts of child ill-treatment after being caught on video abusing young children under her care. The 35-year-old, who was employed as a Mandarin teacher at Kinderland, admitted to three charges, while three additional charges will be taken into consideration for sentencing on March 13. The case first gained public attention in 2023 when footage of her actions, secretly recorded by a colleague, was uploaded to social media.
The court heard that the teacher had abused four children, aged between one and three, while working at the preschool. One of the victims, identified as V1 in court documents, was one year and ten months old at the time. In June 2023, the teacher noticed that V1’s water bottle remained full, indicating that she had not been drinking water. When the child refused to drink, she forcefully grabbed her, pushed her to the floor, and squeezed her cheeks to pry her mouth open before pouring water down her throat. The distressing incident was captured on video, in which the child could be heard crying, coughing, and choking.
The child’s parents were unaware of the abuse until August 2023, when the school informed them. They later reported to the police that their daughter had begun waking up at night crying, saying “no” and “bye bye lao shi,” which they interpreted as her wishing for the teacher to leave.
Another child, identified as V2, was abused in a similar manner. In June 2023, when the two-year-five-month-old boy refused to drink water, the teacher grabbed him by both arms, turned him around, and pushed him to the ground. The child managed to break free but was repeatedly pushed down as he attempted to escape. At one point, the teacher remarked that he should go to Japan and compete in sumo wrestling.
Three days later, the abuse continued when she grabbed V2 by the forehead, forcibly tilted his head back, and poured water into his mouth. The boy screamed and struggled while this happened. His parents, who were informed of the abuse in August 2023, later reported that their son had developed a fear of being touched on his head and back. He would also have nightmares, crying out “no, no, no, I don’t want” in his sleep.
During the court hearing, the prosecution sought a jail term of 18 to 24 months, highlighting the cruelty of the teacher’s actions. The Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) argued that despite seeing the distress of the children, she continued her abusive behavior, even forcing water down a crying child’s throat. He dismissed claims that her actions stemmed from concern for the children's well-being, emphasizing that her behavior was harmful and unnecessary.
The defense lawyer, however, argued that his client had not acted out of malice or a desire to harm the children. He pointed out that unlike other abuse cases, the victims did not suffer physical injuries such as bruises. He also disagreed with the prosecution’s claim that V1 had been at risk of asphyxiation, stating that while the child experienced choking and discomfort, her life was not in danger. He added that his client had a difficult job as a caregiver and would now have to pay a heavy price for her actions.
Under the law, anyone convicted of child ill-treatment can face up to eight years in prison and/or a fine of up to $8,000.
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