Cleaner stabs resident in neck after void deck row

[R y u]

Jan 4, 2011

Cleaner stabs resident in neck after void deck row

By Khushwant Singh

A RESIDENT, who told a cleaner to quieten down, is now unable to speak after being stabbed in the neck.

K Mohan, 49, pleaded guilty in a district court on Tuesday to hurting Mr Ngoh Chin Boon, 33, with a knife. He will be sentenced on Jan 21.

The court heard that Mr Ngoh was playing chess with retiree Chan Keng Mun, 64, at the void deck of Block 26 Sin Ming Industrial Sector A at 10pm on Aug 1, 2009.

Mohan was drinking beer with a friend nearby but an hour later, the cleaner started shouting and swearing vulgarities into his mobile phone.

Mr Ngoh told the cleaner not to talk so loudly or the police might come.

A row broke out and when Mohan swung a beer bottle, Mr Ngoh pushed his attacker, who fell to the floor.

The cleaner picked himself up and walked away briskly only to return minutes later with a knife that had a 13cm-long blade.

Mohan then slashed the victim's arm and stabbed him in the neck before running off.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Stella Tan said Mr Ngoh requires speech therapy and voice rehabilitation to try and speak again.

Mohan was found fit to stand trial but the psychiatric report from the Institute of Mental Health stated he would require lifelong medication for his schizophrenia.

Mohan has been in trouble with the law since 1982 and has been behind bars for fighting, theft and drug consumption.

Defence counsel Suresh Damodara had asked for sentencing to be adjourned as Mohan intends to carry a kavadi during Thaipusam on Jan 20 so as to repent and cleanse himself.

The cleaner is out on $15,000 bail furnished by his sister.

 

[Blanka]

Jan 26, 2011

Jailed 30 months for stabbing cabby

By Elena Chong

K. Mohan who stabbed a cabby in the neck was jailed for 30 months on Wednesday. -- PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE

AN UNEMPLOYED man who stabbed a cabby in the neck was jailed for 30 months on Wednesday.

Community Court judge Ng Peng Hong told K. Mohan that he had not ordered caning because of the latter's mental condition.

The 49-year-old, who is suffering from schizophrenia, had earlier admitted to voluntarily causing hurt to Mr Ngoh Chin Boon, 33, with a knife at the void deck of Block 26 Sin Ming Industrial Sector A on Aug 1, 2009. As a result of the attack, Mr Ngoh has lost his voice.

The court heard that he was playing chess with retiree Mr Chan Keng Mun, 64, at the void deck, while Mohan was drinking beer with his friend nearby.

Sometime between 11pm and 11.10pm, Mr Ngoh heard Mohan shouting and swearing into his mobile phone. As he wanted to concentrate on his game, the cabby told Mohan not to talk too loudly or the police might come.

During a heated argument, Mohan swung a beer bottle at Mr Ngoh who pushed him, causing Mohan to fall. Mohan stood up and briskly left the void deck. He returned a few minutes later with a knife to attack Mr Ngoh, who tried to run and ward off the knife but was slashed.

Mohan's friend came and pulled him away. Mohan's lawyer Suresh Damodara said his client needed help and long-term treatment.

He said Mohan was upset and emotionally stressed after his girlfriend had told him on the phone that she had aborted their child. Mohan could have been jailed for up to five years or fined or caned or received any two of the punishments.