Man assaulted wife while out on bail

[MarrickG]

Despite a personal protection order (PPO) obtained by his wife, an unemployed man breached it three times and acted violently towards her.

Two of them were committed when Muruka Vairamuthu (right) was out on court bail for an earlier breach, a Community Court heard.

Yesterday, the 48-year-old was jailed for nine months after admitting to three charges of breach of PPO and one of using criminal force on a public servant.

Three other charges were considered during sentencing.

One of the occasions took place on Jan 2 this year, after her birthday celebration with alcoholic drinks.

He punched his wife, Madam Gabrielle Ramalingam, 34, on the face several times while she was asleep.

He dragged her from the bed and choked her.

He also banged her head against the wooden main door several times.

When she tried to run, he pulled her back into the flat.

She broke free and ran out naked, with blood all over her face and body, across the corridor and into her neighbour’s unit.

She fainted and collapsed on the floor.

When police were interviewing him, Muruka became agitated and wanted to confront a neighbour who had come out to take a look.

When Corporal Muhammad Syarifuddin Muhammad Ajmain, 21, and his partner tried to calm him down, he shoved the corporal, causing the policeman to stagger backwards a few steps.

Madam Ramalingam was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital for treatment for multiple bruises on the body and face.

Muruka first contravened the PPO – issued in December 2009 – on Oct 26 last year when he choked his wife in a flat in Ang Mo Kio during a dispute.

She had moved out of the family flat in Hougang to live in Ang Mo Kio.

Less than a month later on Nov 22, she went to the Hougang flat with two companions to visit her children, one of whom had fallen ill.

Muruka demanded sex before he would allow her to see the children.

When she refused, he grabbed her and choked her.

He released her when she struggled.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Asran Samad described Muruka’s Jan 2 assault as savage and relentless.

On top of that, he said, Muruka committed five of the seven offences while on court bail, including the second and third breaches of the protection order.

The offences painted a picture of a malevolent individual who had no qualms about resorting to senseless violence, whether it was against public servants, acquaintances or his own family members, and whose conduct could only be described as repulsive, he added.

Muruka, who expressed remorse and said he was intoxicated at the time of the offences, will attend an alcohol treatment programme.