Man jailed 12 months for unprovoked attack at Clarke Quay
He was walking to a taxi stand when he was assaulted from the back by a man he had met for the first time a few hours ago in a Clarke Quay club.
As a result, 29-year-old Tan Chia How’s jaw was so badly fractured that he had to have titanium plates and screws fixed into it for more than a year. Tan could not eat solid food for two months and could not speak properly in the first month after the incident.
His assailant, Toh Guoxiang, 26, was sentenced to 12 months’ jail on Thursday (2 June). He had pleaded guilty to one count of causing grievous hurt and two unrelated charges under the Road Traffic Act on Monday. Two other traffic offences were taken into consideration for sentencing.
Investigations showed that on 4 March last year, Toh and Tan had met only a few hours before the incident at the Pump Room, a club in Clarke Quay.
Tan had gone for a drink with a friend, Julie Lim Yi Chen, at around 11.30pm. While at the club, Lim invited a mutual friend of hers and Tan – Tia Lee Sun San – to join them. Lee, together with Tan, his girlfriend and two others joined Lim and Toh for drinks.
When the club was closing around 3.30am, Lee and her friends, including Toh, decided to go elsewhere. Lee invited Lim and Tan to join them but Tan declined as he had to go to work later in the day.
Tan was heading towards the taxi stand at River Valley Road with Lim when Toh approached Tan from behind, throwing a punch at him.
Toh missed and Tan fell to the ground. Toh then kicked Tan once in the face, causing Tan to bleed profusely from his mouth.
He stopped only when his friends intervened. Toh left with his girlfriend and took a taxi home after the incident, while Lim and Lee brought Tan to Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre to treat his injuries.
In the course of investigations, Toh told the police that he had consumed a significant amount of alcohol and recalled feeling tipsy.
Tan was so badly beaten up that his lower jaw had bruises, three fractures, and a split tooth. He also had bruises on this right cheek. He underwent surgery on the same day and had his jaw fixed with a titanium plate and screws. Tan was hospitalised from 5 to 7 March last year and given 25 days’ medical leave.
In his victim’s impact statement, Tan said that he lost 6kg as he had trouble consuming his meals. He could not eat solid food for two months and had difficulties speaking in the first month. Tan also said that he has become “more reserved and careful of his surroundings and avoids going out to drink” due to fears that he might experience a similar incident.
Of the $27,589.17 in medical fees, Tan had to fork out $3,605.90 as the rest was covered by insurance. Toh compensated Tan with $1,037.90.
In mitigation, Toh’s lawyer Cory Wong Guo Yean said that his client had made partial compensation and the victim had fully recovered from his injuries. He sought a jail sentence of less than seven months.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Nicholas Lai said that the attack was “entirely without provocation” and that the “signficant force” had been used in that one kick. DPP Lai added that Toh had attacked Tan while he was in a “particularly vulnerable and defenceless” position. The prosecution asked for a jail term of at least one year.
Toh was also fined $1,200 on one count of driving without a valid license and another of taking away vehicle without the owner’s consent for a separate incident on 9 October last year. He has been disqualified from driving for one year.
For causing grievous hurt, Tan could have been jailed up to 10 years, and/or fined, and/or caned.
Other Singapore stories:
Last suspect charged in Upper Serangoon porridge stall wrecking case
North-South Line commuters face delays due to SMRT’s signalling checks
Man fined $4,800 for abandoning dog, keeping unlicensed dogs
