Retiree loses thumb in tiff

[M.Bison]

May 20, 2010
Retiree loses thumb in tiff

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong
<!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> A DISPUTE between a hawker and a customer over a bowl of fishball noodles cost the customer his thumb, a district court heard on Thursday. Sim Yong Ha, 66, who was then selling fishball noodles, was having an argument with retiree Chan Seng Chai, 57, at Block 79 Telok Blangah Drive last Sept 30 when he used a chopper to block a chair held by the victim. Mr Chan had confronted Sim over his earlier behaviour when he remarked that Mr Chan's wife should not be so demanding as the noodle only cost $2. Mr Chan's wife, Madam Loh Woon Kew, 51, had told Sim to separate the chilli from the noodles and to cut the noodles when she ordered a bowl for her husband. Sim complied.

Madam Loh then told her husband what happened. After finishing his breakfast, Mr Chan confronted Sim about his earlier behaviour. The two men had an argument, during which Sim again commented that the noodles only cost $2. Mr Chan then grabbed a plastic chair and wanted to swing it at Sim, who took a chopper to block the chair. The chopper hit the victim's left hand and resulted in his thumb being amputated. The thumb was re-attached during an operation at Singapore General Hospital. Sim, who admitted to causing grievous hurt by doing a rash and life-endangering act, will be sentenced on June 7. The maximum penalty is four years' jail and a $10,000 fine.

 

[Yukimura Sanada]

Hawker fined S$10,000 for slicing off victim's thumb
By Zul Othman | Posted: 07 June 2010 1341 hrs
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="260"> <tbody><tr> <td align="right" width="20"></td> <td align="right" width="240">

</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="60" valign="top"></td> <td class="update" height="80" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="138">Photos </td> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="47">1 of 1</td> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="18"><input disabled="disabled" id="btnPrev" value="<< Previous" onclick="Prev();" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_previous.gif" type="image" height="15" width="18"></td> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="19"><input id="bntPlay" value="Play - Stop" onclick="Play()" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_stop.gif" type="image" height="15" width="19"></td> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="18"><input disabled="disabled" id="btnNext" value=" Next >> " onclick="Next();" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" type="image" height="15" width="18"></td> </tr> </tbody></table>

</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td class="update"></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

SINGAPORE: A hawker who sliced off a victim's thumb during an argument last year has been sentenced to one day's jail and fined S$10,000.

A district court convicted Sim Yong Ha of hurting 57-year-old Chan Seng Chai on September 30 last year.

An argument had broken out between the two men over a bowl of fishball noodles.

Chan grabbed a plastic chair and charged at Sim.

To protect himself, Sim took a chopper from inside his stall and used it to block the chair.

But the chopper hit Chan's hand and sliced off his thumb.

Before sentencing, District Judge Ronald Gwee said this was an "exception case" and had some words for the victim who, he said, was clearly the aggressor.

The judge said the victim was younger of the two and was of bigger build.

He said Sim feared for his safety and so used the chopper.

Chan's thumb has since been re-attached.

MediaCorp understands that he was not arrested for his role in the fight.

Sim could have been jailed four years for his offence. - CNA/vm