Orchard Towers death: Natalie Siow claims trial to one charge
SINGAPORE — A woman initially accused of murdering a man after a fight at Orchard Towers but later had her charge reduced to causing hurt is claiming trial to one of her three charges.
Natalie Siow Yu Zhen, 23, told the court on Thursday (28 November) that she is claiming trial to the charge of consorting with a co-accused, Tan Sen Yang, 28, who had in his possession a Kerambit knife.
The incident is alleged to have taken place at the Naughty Girl Club at Orchard Towers at about 5.46am on 2 July this year.
Her lawyer Amarick Gill said that his client has not decided whether to plead guilty or claim trial to her remaining charges.
Siow is also accused of behaving in a disorderly manner in public and voluntarily causing hurt to Satheesh Noel Gobidass, by kicking and punching him together with three other co-accused, Tan Sen Yang, Joel Tan Yun Sheng, 26, and Ang Da Yuan, 26.
Satheesh, who was 31, died following the altercation.
Siow was arrested along with six men in the aftermath of the incident. Video footage, which was widely shared online, showed Satheesh fighting with some individuals before stumbling to the building's entrance and collapsing there. He was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital but died at about 7.25am.
The seven were later charged with the murder of Satheesh.
Subsequently, three of the men had their capital charges replaced with consorting with Tan Sen Yang, knowing that he had in his possession a foldable curved knife. They are Loh Boon Chong, 25, Chan Jia Xing, 26, and Tan Hong Sheng, 22.
On 18 October, Siow had her murder charge reduced to causing hurt. She was also given two new charges a week later.
Her case has been fixed for a pre-trial conference on 6 January.
For the charge of behaving in a disorderly manner, Siow is accused of repeatedly dashing towards a group of patrons who were at the main entrance of the Naughty Girl Club on the second floor of Orchard Towers in a bid to kick and push them between 6.21am and 6.24am on 2 July.
The punishment for consorting with a person who possesses an offensive weapon is the same as that for the person who carries the weapon: up to three years’ jail with at least six strokes of the cane. Only male offenders below 50 can be caned.
For causing hurt, the maximum penalty is up to two years’ jail along with a fine of up to $5,000.
The maximum punishment for behaving in a disorderly manner in public is a fine of up to $2,000 and up to six months’ jail, for a first offence. Repeat offenders face a fine of up to $5,000 and up to one year in jail.
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