A former nursing home employee was jailed for 13 weeks after pushing and choking an 87-year-old dementia patient, causing the elderly man to fall and hit his head on the bed rails.
Hennayaka Mudiyenselage Damith Chathuranga H., 31, pleaded guilty on Jan. 15, 2026, to two charges of voluntarily causing hurt to a vulnerable person.
The Sri Lankan national was working as a Healthcare Assistant at Ren Ci @ Woodlands and was responsible for caring for residents at the nursing home.
The abuse occurred on Jul. 11, 2025, and was uncovered after the nursing home conducted a routine review of CCTV footage.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Jun Kai told the court that the victim, a Singaporean man, suffered from hyperactive delirium, dementia and osteoporosis, and was assessed to have no mental capacity to make personal or healthcare decisions.
The elderly man was almost completely bedridden, had a high fall risk, and was fully dependent on staff for daily care. He had no next of kin in Singapore.
At around 6:44pm, Damith wheeled the victim back to his bed and lifted him roughly while changing his diaper. He pushed the victim’s head with his left hand, causing it to hit the bed rails.
While attempting to slide a clean diaper under the victim, Damith choked the elderly man with his right hand. He released his grip briefly before choking the victim a second time as the elderly man attempted to speak.
Damith then restrained the victim using a body vest tied to the bed frame and struck the back of his head multiple times, including once after placing a blanket over him.
At about 7:05pm, Damith noticed the victim’s legs hanging over the bed rail and responded by hitting the back of the elderly man’s head again before forcefully shifting him back onto the bed. He struck the victim once more when the elderly man made noises as he was leaving.
Subsequent medical examinations did not reveal visible injuries, and the victim was unable to recall the incidents.
Ren Ci Hospital said it became aware of the abuse on Jul. 12, 2025, and immediately suspended Damith pending an internal investigation. He was later dismissed from his position.
A police report was filed on Jul. 15, and Damith was arrested three days later.
The nursing home said it has since strengthened staff training and will continue to remain vigilant to prevent similar incidents.
