SINGAPORE - If a five-year-old boy who was scalded to death had been given medical attention earlier, his condition would not have deteriorated so easily, a burns specialist said on Friday in the ongoing trial of the child's parents.
Each of them also faces charges for other abusive acts, including confining the boy in a pet's cage, pinching him with a pair of pliers and hitting him with a broom. Dr Kang, who treated the boy, testified that the boy was critically ill, with extensive burns covering about 70 per cent of his body. As a child's skin is thinner, the wounds would be deeper compared with an adult who suffered burns of the same temperature and duration.
Also taking the stand was clinical psychologist Leung Hoi Ting, who had conducted an intellectual assessment on Ridzuan and concluded that he was not intellectually disabled, although his intelligence was"extremely low to low average". Mr Thuraisingam said Ms Leung did not take steps to seek corroboration from Ridzuan's mother, who is in prison, on his growing-up years.