The 10-year-old denied the accusations until a cat caretaker from Block 186 Boon Lay Avenue provided him with the surveillance footage. He subsequently confessed to the act, explaining that he committed it because “he did not receive love and care from his family.”
Umi Solikati, a 39-year-old resident of Boon Lay, stated that she discovered the lifeless Panther cat at 2:00 p.m. on December 14. She has been feeding the cat daily for around eleven years, according to The Straits Times.
According to Chua Mui Mui, a 47-year-old local bus captain known for feeding the neighborhood cats, Panther's death was not an isolated event.
She was reported as stating, "Over the previous two to three years, five cats have been thrown on the same block."
Within hours of the video's online posting, a Change.org petition named Justice for Panther was formed and received over 60,000 signatures. The petition's author, Nadya Im, demanded that the Animal and Veterinary Service and Singapore Police Force "conduct a thorough investigation and bring the offender to justice."
Im added, "We understand that the culprit is a minor and that the Animal and Birds Act of 1965 may not apply, but we ask the relevant authorities to enforce this law and hope that this act of cruelty will be punished accordingly."
Under Section 42 of the Animal and Birds Act of 1965, anybody convicted of animal cruelty is subject to a fine of up to $15,000 and/or up to 18 months in jail.
The video was uploaded to a number of internet groups, where numerous users expressed strong viewpoints. Among them was a topic on the AskSingapore subreddit debating whether the cat-throwing child should be punished.
The majority of readers were certain that the youngster, regardless of his age, should be brought to justice.
Some Redditors noted that animal cruelty is one of the earliest indicators of psychopathy, warning that the youngster may commit more horrible acts in the future.
Others responded by suggesting that the boy's punishment should consist of rehabilitation and education.
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