The police are aware of an online posting accusing an Applied Behavioural Analysis therapist of abusing a young child with autism.
On 29 March 2019 at about 11.30pm, the police received a report lodged by the child’s father that his six-year-old son had been physically abused by a 28-year-old female therapist earlier that day during a therapy session at their home. Medical examination of the boy at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital was carried out on the same day and no physical injuries were found.
The police had conducted investigations, including reviewing the CCTV footage that captured the entire 90-minute therapy session involving the boy and the therapist, and interviewed the therapist and other relevant persons. Upon the conclusion of investigations, the police, in consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), issued a written advisory to the therapist. This outcome took into consideration the context of the therapist’s actions, and the interactions and dynamics between the boy and the therapist during the entire 90-minute session, which the nine-minute extract of the CCTV footage that had been shared online did not fully reflect. The outcome of the investigations was communicated to the family in August 2019. The police understand that the family had consulted lawyers and had received legal advice on the matter.
After receiving further representations from the family in January 2020, the police conducted more interviews and sought further guidance from AGC. This was made known to the family at that time, and the police have been in contact with the boy’s family. The police are currently still in the midst of the review.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
03 July 2020 @ 11:50 AM