Shocking footage emerged showing a Taiwanese babysitter allegedly beating a baby girl while playing on her mobile phone.
The 26-year-old babysitter, surnamed Chen, can be seen patting the eight-month-old girl’s chest strongly while supposedly trying to stop her from crying.
Ms Chen’s family denied and claimed the camera angle suggested a brutal mistreatment. Ms Chen could face a fine up to NTD $300,000 (£7,300) if found guilty, according to Apple Daily Taiwan.
Ms Chen, 26, throws an eight-month-old baby girl on the floor while babysitting in Taiwan
Surveillance camera footage first emerged on a closed group on Facebook as the father, Li Chun, posted on April 3.
The three-minute-long clip, taken on March 26, shows Ms Chen shaking the baby girl while looking at her phone. The baby appears to be crying when Ms Chen violently wipes the baby’s mouth.
The eight-month-old was hit in the chest for about nine times before being pushed to a corner in the room.
She is using her phone while impatiently pats on the baby’s chest numerous times
The eight-month-old was crying loud as the babysitter lifted her up and shook violently
Ms Chen, from Changhua county in west Taiwan, is said to have been taking care at least two other children on the day and was apparently short on patience, reported Apple Daily Taiwan.
Huang Li-chuan, head of Department of Social Welfare in Changhua county, received a report from the baby’s parents and launched an investigation promptly.
‘Ms Chen is a licensed babysitter and is registered at a nursery centre, however the nursery centre has not acquired the licence for stay-at-home babysitting,’ said Ms Huang.
A family member of Ms Chen told the reporter that the angle of camera was misleading.
Local social welfare department has opened a case to investigate the alleged mistreatment
The 26-year-old Ms Chen, pictured, could face a fine up to £7,300 if she is found guilty
‘Ms Chen did not throw her onto the floor but just put her on the floor gently. You cannot said it’s abuse from watching the video clip,’ the family member said.
Mr Li happened to find Ms Chen as a babysitter through Facebook and he paid her NTD $19,000 (£462) in the last two months.
There were no significant injuries found on the eight-month-old and she is now being looked after by her grandmother.
According to the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act in Taiwan, Ms Chen could face a fine up to NTD $300,000 (£7,300) if found guilty.