Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli revealed that eight-month-old Trevor Neo and two-month-old Zabelle Peh died from severe domestic abuse without prior alerts reaching the ministry. The parents responsible have been handed sentences ranging from seven to 16 years for actions including smothering and inflicting head trauma. In 2025, protective services stepped in to address 687 abuse cases involving children aged six and under, with three involving serious injuries. Masagos emphasized that while assessments frequently depend on incomplete information, standardized reporting tools remain vital for early intervention.
Key points
Child protective services were unaware of the abuse in both fatal infant cases before the…: Child protective services were unaware of the abuse in both fatal infant cases before the victims died.
Caregivers are urged to call the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline ev…: Caregivers are urged to call the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline even if a child shows no visible physical trauma.
Frontline healthcare professionals utilize standardized risk assessment tools to report s…: Frontline healthcare professionals utilize standardized risk assessment tools to report suspected domestic mistreatment to the police or dedicated helplines.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
- Two Singapore babies died from abuse by their parents between 2021 and 2024, and MSF Protective Service was not alerted before either death, Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli said in Parliamentary reply.
- The children were Trevor Neo and Zabelle Peh. Their parents were jailed after severe abuse, including smothering, shaking, head injuries and fractures.
- Masagos said caregivers should report suspected abuse to the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline, even without visible injuries, and professionals must use standard reporting tools to assess such cases.
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SINGAPORE - Two babies died after being abused by their parents between 2021 and 2024, said Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli.
In both cases, his ministry’s Protective Service had not been alerted to the abuse before the children died, Masagos said on Nov 3 in a written parliamentary reply to Nominated MP Kenneth Poon.
The Straits Times understands the two children who died were Trevor Neo and Zabelle Peh. Trevor died at eight months old in September 2024 after his…
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