Man who repeatedly spat at healthcare workers jailed, fined
SINGAPORE — Whenever he felt frustrated with the services provided to him, he would spit at staff who attended to him.
Choo Bee Choon often targeted healthcare workers, including nurses.
The 62-year-old, who has been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, was given nine weeks’ jail and fined $1,400 on Tuesday (17 December) after he pleaded guilty to one count each of using criminal force on a public servant, using criminal force, and causing hurt.
Other charges, related to him lying on the floor at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and refusing to leave and spitting saliva at other healthcare providers, were considered for sentencing.
In mitigation, Choo, who was released from prison in February this year, told the court that he did not have a house to stay in and had slept at a hospital until the police brought him to Angsana Home, a welfare home. According to Choo, he later stayed in the Institute of Mental Health for more than six months until he was transferred to Banyan Home, another welfare home.
The unrepresented man pleaded for leniency, acknowledging that he was “in the wrong”.
On 28 February, during a visit to SGH, Choo asked an auxiliary police officer, who was directing traffic, for directions. After the exchange, Choo continued on his way across the zebra crossing. But Choo kept looking back at the officer as he was unsatisfied with the manner the officer had showed him directions.
He returned to the officer, pulled down his face mask and spat at the officer’s right shoulder to vent his anger, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Ho Jiayun told the court.
The officer later lodged a police report.
On 1 March, Choo spat on a male patient care assistant’s left shoulder after asking him about the consultation waiting time. Two days later, he lay on the floor at SGH and refused to leave despite being asked to do so.
On 14 March, Choo approached the same hospital’s Accident and Emergency reception to see a doctor. While at the waiting area, an assistant nurse clinician, Zamshek Salamoon, approached Choo to screen him, but Choo was unhappy at the delay.
When Zamshek tried to persuade Choo to cooperate, the latter spat onto the nurse’s face and head to vent his frustration.
As Choo tried to leave, Zamshek held onto his arm. In retaliation, Choo punched the nurse on his jaw. Zamshek later consulted a doctor and was assessed to have slight tenderness at his right jaw.
About two weeks later, Choo spat at a doctor at Angsana Home after the doctor prescribed him a different brand of medication for gastric pain. While Dr Ng Yew Yee tried to dodge the spit, some landed in his hair. Choo also spat at nurses at Angsana Home twice in the same month.
DPP Ho noted that Choo had offences dating back to 1974, which were mostly for robbery and theft. He was given corrective training in 1985 and two preventive detention stints in 1996 and 2005 for robbery offences.
The prosecutor pointed out that the offences carried a risk of diseases being transmitted.
In response, District Judge Christopher Tan said, “I suppose the question that is relevant is also where the spit lands.”
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