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SINGAPORE: A woman who poured hot water on her then-boyfriend’s groin after suspecting he was cheating on her was sentenced to four years in jail on Thursday (November 26).
Zareena Begum PAM Basheer Ahamed, 50, will appeal the conviction and sentence on one charge of willfully causing serious harm to the victim by means of a heated substance.
She refuted the charge at trial, arguing that what happened was an accident. Hot water from a mug spilled on the victim when he tugged on his arm, he said.
The victim suffered second and third degree burns to more than 12 percent of her body and was hospitalized for 26 days, undergoing three surgical procedures that included skin grafts.
He said the pain made him “want to die” and that the injuries will leave permanent scars.
The prosecution asked for at least five years in jail, with an additional three months in lieu of spanking, while the defense asked for two years.
“I am of the opinion that a sentence of four years in prison would be proportionate to the guilt and criminality of the defendant’s actions and would serve as sufficient punishment,” the judge said.
“In view of the prison sentence that I am imposing, it would not be necessary to impose an additional prison sentence in place of the lashing.”
LEE: Woman convicted of pouring hot water on her boyfriend’s groin after suspecting he was cheating on her
Zareena entered into a relationship with the victim, a married man, in 2006. They had an affair for 11 years and the man promised to marry her. But in 2015, she suspected he was having an affair after seeing him with another woman.
Zareena invited the victim to her home in July 2017, where she read messages from the other woman on the victim’s phone while she was sleeping.
The prosecution said this was the last straw for Zareena, who was furious and “wanted to teach her a lesson she would never forget.” He boiled hot water and poured a cup into the victim’s groin while he slept.
The victim said it was the worst pain she had ever felt in her life.
When he asked Zareena why she did that, she supposedly said “I serve you well” and that he should ask his “new girlfriend to get her aloe vera”.
The victim was unable to work for about six months after the incident and said her confidence was affected by her scars.
Zareena is out on bail pending appeal. For willfully causing serious harm with a heated substance, she could have been jailed for life or imprisoned for up to 15 years and fined. She cannot be spanked because she is a woman.
