"Dad" sentenced to 18 years in prison for killing 2-month-old girl (Singapore, Malaysia)

We posted on this case earlier. Though the boyfriend SARLE STEEPAN KOLUNDU wasn't the biological father, he had himself listed as the father on the birth registration information. He has been sentenced to 18 years in jail for the murder of the 2-month-old baby--and to 16 lashes with a cane (now that's a punishment you don't see very often on this side of the pond!).

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7016393798?Man%20Sentenced%20In%20Singapore%20Court%20To%2018%20Years%20For%20Killing%20Girlfriend's%20Baby

Man Sentenced In Singapore Court To 18 Years For Killing Girlfriend's Baby
September 14, 2009 11:18 a.m. EST

Ayinde O. Chase - AHN Editor

Singapore, Malaysia (AHN) - On Monday a Singapore court sentenced a man to 18 years in jail for killing his girlfriend's 2-month-old daughter. The violent act reportedly followed an argument he had with the young girl's mother. 44-year-old Sarle Steepan Kolundu, plead guilty to a charge of culpable homicide and is also slated to be lashed 16 times with a cane.

Following a quarrel with his girlfriend, Siti Noor Fazlina Haron, 24, at her workplace in June of 2008, Sarle went to the women's shelter where she was residing with the infant and asked shelter workers for the girl, according to reports. Despite not being the girl's biological father, shelter records listed him as the father and he was allowed to remove her from the shelter.

Reportedly still angry following the argument with his girlfriend, Sarle took it out on the child and repeatedly slapped the 2-month old until she began bleeding from the mouth.

A witness saw the attack occur just a few feet from the shelter. They reportedly told shelter workers what they saw and that the baby was blue and motionless. The baby was rushed to the hospital where she died of skull fractures, according to health officials.

The judge presiding over the case told Kolundu that nothing could justify punishing an innocent and helpless baby for any perceived wrong committed by her parent, according to reports.