Advertisement

Man with hygiene obsession admits to hitting parents with metal pole, fracturing mother’s ribs

(PHOTO: Getty Images)
(PHOTO: Getty Images)

For years, he kept a close watch on his elderly parents to ensure that they kept to his standards of cleanliness.

When his parents “disobeyed” him, Foo Shun Xiang, 37, would discipline them by hitting or scolding them. His father, 68, and his mother, 65, lived in fear of their son as he would turn violent whenever he felt displeased.

Foo’s violent streak came to a head in January this year when he witnessed his father wipe his mouth and nose with the same piece of tissue and flew into a rage. He assaulted his father with a metal pole and caused him to bleed. When his mother intervened, Foo fractured her ribs by hitting her with the same pole.

On Tuesday (16 October), Foo, who was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder in 2009, admitted in the State Courts to one count of voluntarily causing grievous hurt to his mother with an aluminium pole. One other count of causing hurt to his father with the same weapon will be taken into consideration when Foo is sentenced.

Both parents were present in court for Foo’s hearing.

The court heard that Foo is unemployed and seldom leaves the house. He receives a monthly allowance from his father, who is the family’s sole breadwinner.

Due to his mental condition, Foo feared dirt and contamination. He would engage in compulsive behaviour such as repeated handwashing. Foo refused to regularly take his medication for his condition.

His behaviour extended to the close monitoring of his parents to ensure that they adhered to his cleaning rituals. He would, for example, tell his parents how to hold their cups and wash their hands. He also forbade them from slamming things on the table and placing things in a disorderly manner.

Between 2009 and 2018, Foo assaulted his parents on at least four occasions. However the incidents went unreported as Foo threatened to use violence on his parents if they were to lodge a report.

On the incident in January, Foo became infuriated with his father for using the same tissue to wipe himself as he had told his parents not to do so. The two went to the kitchen where Foo continued scolding his father. As his father had a stutter, he was unable to respond to his son quickly.

Foo became more angered by his father’s slow response and began punching and kicking him. He pushed him to the ground, picked up a 1.2m long aluminium pole and used it to hit him. The assault continued for about five minutes even though the elder Foo was bleeding.

When his mother expressed shock at the attack, Foo directed his aggression towards her. He grabbed her forearms then punched and kicked all over her body. He pushed her to the ground and hit her torso repeatedly with the pole.

Foo only stopped the assault after the pole broke into two. He threw it away and told his parents to take a shower as they were covered in blood.

The next day, Foo’s mother complained of severe pain on her left ribcage. Foo told his parents to seek medical attention. However, he threatened and ordered them to lie that they were attacked by foreigners who were robbing them.

When Foo’s father met his doctor, he told him that he was robbed and assaulted by two strangers at East Coast Park. He was diagnosed with a laceration on his left ear,multiple cuts and abrasions over his left upper limbs, and bruises on his scalp.

Foo’s mother lied to medical staff that she was assaulted at East Coast Park by two foreign men who tried to rob her. She had three fractured ribs, a fractured big toe and bruises over her head and chest.

The nurse who attended to the elderly woman made a police report about the alleged robbery on 31 January.

The next day, a police officer went to Foo’s house to take his mother’s statement. She maintained that she had been attacked by robbers.

On 2 February, however, the mother confessed that she had given false information to the hospital and police as she wanted to protect her son. She said that she did not have a choice as her son would hurt her and her husband if he knew that the police were investigating him.

Foo, who was assigned a lawyer under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, is expected to be sentenced on 23 October.

Other Singapore stories

Fire damages 5 motorcycles, 1 car outside Boon Lay Shopping Centre

Teen e-scooter rider who hit elderly man gets 15 months’ probation