Spat over fan switch at aged home led to death of 71-year-old man
SINGAPORE — A quarrel between two elderly men at a home for the aged over a fan switch resulted in one of their deaths, a court heard.
Yong Kok Kwong, 69, who suffers from dementia and cognitive impairment, had pushed Tang Chye, 71, causing him to fall to the ground earlier this year.
Tang had a broken skull and a dislocated spine. He died in hospital a few hours later.
At the State Courts on Thursday (2 May), Yong pleaded guilty to causing hurt by a rash act endangering human life and was sentenced to 12 weeks’ jail.
Quarrelled over fan switch
Both Yong and Tang were residents of Bukit Batok Home for the Aged, having been placed there under the Destitute Persons Act.
Yong could go about his daily activities unaided, and was able to orientate himself within the home compound despite his dementia and cognitive impairment. He also did not require any prompting for meals and medication.
Tang lived in the same room as Yong. He needed a walking stick to get around and required assistance for daily needs such as bathing, shaving, nail cutting and changing of diapers.
On 21 February, at about 9pm, both men quarrelled at the entrance of their room over a fan switch. Yong wanted the fan switched on, but Tang wanted it switched off.
In the midst of the dispute, Tang hit Yong with his walking stick thrice over the shoulder.
The two men tussled over the walking stick, and Yong managed to get hold of it.
Yong then used both hands to push Tang’s chest, causing him to lose balance and fall backwards.
There was a loud thud as Tang fell to the floor.
A witness alerted the home staff who then called for an ambulance.
Tang was initially conscious but was unresponsive by the time the ambulance reached hospital.
He died in the early hours of the next morning from head injury, with both lumbar vertebral dislocation and ischaemic heart disease listed as contributory causes of death.
The maximum punishment for causing hurt by doing a rash act endangering human life is up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.
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