Public Prosecutor v Teo Chee Seng: Culpable Homicide Sentencing for Infant Death
In Public Prosecutor v Teo Chee Seng, the High Court of Singapore sentenced Teo Chee Seng to four years' imprisonment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, under section 304(b) of the Penal Code. Teo Chee Seng caused the death of a seven-month-old infant by administering medicated oil. The court considered a second charge of fabricating false evidence. The court determined that the appropriate sentence fell within the mid-range for such offenses, considering the lack of violent intent and the presence of mitigating factors.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Accused sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Teo Chee Seng pleaded guilty to culpable homicide for causing the death of an infant by administering medicated oil. The court sentenced him to four years' imprisonment.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Prosecution | Government Agency | Judgment for the Prosecution | Won | Jason Chan of Deputy Public Prosecutor |
| Teo Chee Seng | Defendant | Individual | Accused found guilty | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Jason Chan | Deputy Public Prosecutor |
| Michael Chia | Sankar Ow and Partners |
4. Facts
- The accused administered medicated oil to a seven-month-old infant.
- The infant died as a result of acute salicylate poisoning.
- The accused was having an affair with the infant's mother.
- The accused was experiencing stress due to divorce proceedings and custody battles.
- The accused initially asked another person to make a false police report taking responsibility for administering the medicated oil.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v Teo Chee Seng, CC 3/2005, [2005] SGHC 45
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Tay Seoh Hong engaged the services of the accused to check on her husband. | |
| Tay and the accused became lovers. | |
| Accused administered medicated oil to the infant. | |
| Forensic pathologist certified the cause of death as acute salicylate poisoning. | |
| Judgment issued. |
7. Legal Issues
- Culpable Homicide
- Outcome: The court found the accused guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
- Category: Substantive
- Sentencing for Culpable Homicide
- Outcome: The court sentenced the accused to four years' imprisonment.
- Category: Procedural
8. Remedies Sought
- Imprisonment
9. Cause of Actions
- Culpable Homicide
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Section 304(b) Penal Code (Cap 224, 1985 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Culpable Homicide
- Medicated Oil
- Acute Salicylate Poisoning
- Infant Death
- Sentencing
- Mitigation
15.2 Keywords
- Culpable Homicide
- Infant Death
- Sentencing
- Singapore
- Criminal Law
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Culpable Homicide | 95 |
| Sentencing | 90 |
| Criminal Law | 90 |
| Benchmark Sentences | 85 |
| Penal Code | 80 |
| Criminal Procedure | 70 |
| Credibility of Witness | 40 |
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Sentencing