SINGAPORE — Two elderly residents at the Bukit Batok Home for the Aged got into a dispute over whether a fan should be kept turned on, resulting in a tussle that caused the death of 71-year-old Tang Chye.
On Thursday (May 2), Yong Kok Kwong, a 69-year-old who has dementia and cognitive impairment, was jailed for 12 weeks after pleading guilty to committing a rash act. He had pushed his roommate in the chest after the latter hit him with a walking stick.
The court heard that Yong was placed in the nursing home under the Destitute Persons Act in 2011. He was able to go about his daily activities independently without requiring any prompting for meals or medication.
But Tang, who was sent there in 2014, had to rely on a walking stick to get around and needed help to bathe, shave, cut his nails and change his diapers.
At around 9pm on Feb 21, the duo had an argument in their room as Yong wanted to keep the fan turned on, while Tang wanted it switched off.
During the dispute, Tang used his walking stick to strike Yong three times on his shoulder, prompting the latter to grab the walking stick and yank it out of Tang’s grip.
Yong then used both hands to push onto Tang’s chest, causing him to lose his balance and fall backwards onto the concrete floor. Yong then walked out of the room.
According to a witness, Mr Admawi Abdoladem, 77, who is also a resident of the nursing home, Tang landed with a “very loud thud sound” which he heard from 12 metres away.
The altercation was also captured on surveillance camera.
Yong later admitted to the police that he had intended to make Tang fall when he pushed him.
As a result of the fall, Tang suffered a 9cm skull fracture and a complete dislocation of the spine. He was initially conscious when he was being conveyed to the National University Hospital but became unresponsive when he reached the hospital. He was pronounced dead at 4.30am on Feb 22.
More at Dispute over fan leaves one nursing home resident dead, another in jail
On Thursday (May 2), Yong Kok Kwong, a 69-year-old who has dementia and cognitive impairment, was jailed for 12 weeks after pleading guilty to committing a rash act. He had pushed his roommate in the chest after the latter hit him with a walking stick.
The court heard that Yong was placed in the nursing home under the Destitute Persons Act in 2011. He was able to go about his daily activities independently without requiring any prompting for meals or medication.
But Tang, who was sent there in 2014, had to rely on a walking stick to get around and needed help to bathe, shave, cut his nails and change his diapers.
At around 9pm on Feb 21, the duo had an argument in their room as Yong wanted to keep the fan turned on, while Tang wanted it switched off.
During the dispute, Tang used his walking stick to strike Yong three times on his shoulder, prompting the latter to grab the walking stick and yank it out of Tang’s grip.
Yong then used both hands to push onto Tang’s chest, causing him to lose his balance and fall backwards onto the concrete floor. Yong then walked out of the room.
According to a witness, Mr Admawi Abdoladem, 77, who is also a resident of the nursing home, Tang landed with a “very loud thud sound” which he heard from 12 metres away.
The altercation was also captured on surveillance camera.
Yong later admitted to the police that he had intended to make Tang fall when he pushed him.
As a result of the fall, Tang suffered a 9cm skull fracture and a complete dislocation of the spine. He was initially conscious when he was being conveyed to the National University Hospital but became unresponsive when he reached the hospital. He was pronounced dead at 4.30am on Feb 22.
More at Dispute over fan leaves one nursing home resident dead, another in jail
