SINGAPORE, Dec 1 — A domestic helper in Singapore, Junny Lal Awn Pui, 26, was sentenced to nine months in prison for abusing a pet poodle named Boyboy under her employer’s orders. Junny, a Myanmar national, was convicted on three counts of animal cruelty after CCTV footage showed her hitting the 15-year-old poodle with her hand and a rod, and hanging it by its harness from a balcony railing.

The abuse led to severe injuries, likely causing Boyboy’s death, according to a veterinary report. Court documents revealed that Junny was following the instructions of her employer, a 37-year-old woman named Heng, who had ordered her to punish Boyboy for eating without permission. After the abuse on January 22, Boyboy was found lifeless and died shortly afterward.

Suspicious of the dog's sudden death, Heng's boyfriend, Lai, reviewed the CCTV footage and reported the abuse to authorities, prompting an investigation. The case has raised questions about Heng's involvement, with NParks yet to confirm any action against her.