Man jailed over assault which left colleague with disfigured face
SINGAPORE — A 54-year-old man working at a port terminal was unhappy with a colleague and assaulted him with a 56cm-long metal rod, a court heard.
The 55-year-old victim suffered a 5cm-deep cut over his left cheek, a missing tooth and a chipped tooth as a result of the unprovoked attack in July last year.
The cut on his face was so deep that the victim is likely to have permanent facial disfiguration.
At the State Courts on Thursday (2 January), the perpetrator Abdul Razak Abdul Karim, now 55, was jailed for 10 months.
The Singaporean pleaded guilty to one charge of causing hurt with a deadly weapon.
Victim didn’t retaliate
On 5 July last year, at about 7.15am, Abdul Razak called out to the victim, Bakhtiar Ali, who was walking towards the canteen at Pasir Panjang Terminal to get some drinks before a briefing. The two men worked for Call Lade Enterprises, which had been contracted by PSA for the supply of prime mover drivers and lashing specialists.
“The accused stated that he had not been happy with the victim for a long time,” said Deputy Public Prosector Phoebe Tan. “He shouted at the victim, stating that the victim should meet him outside if he were unhappy with the accused”, the prosecutor added.
The court was not told what Abdul Razak was unhappy about. He shouted at Bakhtiar thrice, but the latter ignored him. “The victim told the accused that he did not wish to get into a dispute,” said DPP Tan.
The culprit then took out a 56cm-long metal rod from his bag, and swung it towards the victim’s face, hitting his left cheek.
Possible permanent disfiguration
At about 10am, Bakhtiar’s foreman sent him to hospital, where he was admitted for a day. He had to undergo surgery for the cut on his face by a plastic surgeon and was also treated by a dentist.
The victim was given hospitalisation leave for two weeks. He later went for subsequent reviews with the plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery department.
A doctor said in a medical report that the victim could possibly have scarring and permanent disfiguration due to the significant depth and length of the wound on his face.
The victim’s medical bills totalled $1,259.85, of which $450 was paid through his Medisave.
In mitigation, Abdul Razak, who did not have a lawyer, told the court that he regretted what he did. “Throughout my life, I have never found fault with others,” he said.
He added that he was supporting his mother, two adult children who refuse to work, and a grandson who is in school.
District Judge Ong Chin Rhu backdated Abdul Razak’s jail term to the date of his remand on 11 October last year.
The maximum punishment for causing hurt with a deadly weapon is up to seven years’ jail, along with a fine and caning. Only male offenders below 50 are liable for caning.
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