Woman in all-female gang given 21 months' probation for assaulting other women
SINGAPORE — The last member of a gang of young women who attacked two women, one of whom was accused of flirting with a friend's boyfriend, was sentenced to 21 months’ probation on Thursday (30 May).
Apart from assaulting the two women, Grace Quek Xin Hui, 23, also held a lighter and threatened to burn their faces and hair.
Separately, Quek attacked a former female colleague over a rumour allegedly being spread about her.
Time curfew, community service and counselling
As part of her probation, she will have to keep to a time curfew, in which she has to remain indoors between 10pm and 6am. She will also have to serve 130 hours of community service and receive counselling for anger management issues.
Her parents were placed on a $10,000 bond to ensure her good behaviour.
District Judge Ng Cheng Thiam noted that the other members of the group had been mostly sentenced to probation.
“Given that probation is recommended, I am inclined to accept probation for (Quek) as well.
“Take this opportunity to rehabilitate yourself, don’t waste this chance,” the judge told Quek.
Quek, who is pursuing an arts course at a private school, previously admitted to one count of rioting, criminal intimidation, and voluntarily causing hurt. Similar charges were taken into consideration for her sentencing.
The four others who were part of Quek's gang – Gina Yeo Kai Ting, 21, Tey Shi Hui, 22, Jamie Thng Yu Xuan, 23, and Ang Pek Ling, 20 – have all been dealt with.
Yeo and Ang were each given 18 months' probation, while Tey received 21 months' probation. Thng was sentenced to 12 months reformative training. She was also sentenced on drug charges.
Confrontation outside nightclub
The attack occurred outside Sentosa Gateway's Club Viva, where the victim Terine Ng Qian Hui, 19, was drinking on 15 December 2017.
Quek’s gang was also drinking in the nightclub, and Yeo had complained that Ng had kissed one of her friends’ boyfriend. The friend was not part of the gang.
Upon hearing this, Thng, who was friends with Ng, decided to confront her friend. At about 4am, she contacted Ng and asked her to meet outside Club Viva. The rest of the gang accompanied her.
At the scene, Thng shouted vulgarities at Ng, asking her why she had flirted with someone else’s boyfriend. Ng denied the act and the girl gang began slapping, kicking and punching her, pulling her hair as well.
During the tussle, Quek pulled Ng to the ground by her hair, held a lighter near her face, and threatened to burn her.
Despite the intervention of bouncers from another club, the gang continued attacking Ng.
Ng later escaped with the assistance of an unknown passer-by and fled to another club.
The gang came across their second victim, Petrina Loke Mei Wan, 21, whom they knew was Ng's friend, and confronted her about Ng's whereabouts.
When Loke replied that she did not know, the infuriated gang attacked her in the same manner as Ng, with Quek threatening to burn her with a lighter. They stopped their attack only after a bouncer intervened.
Ng sought medical assistance and was found with bruises, abrasions and scratches over her body. She filed a police report the next day.
Prior scuffle with former colleague
Before this incident, Quek had also been involved in a scuffle of her own with a former colleague, Hooi Zi En, 29.
On 8 May 2016 at about 4.45am, Hooi and Quek were at Club Luxi at the now-defunct St James Power Station.
Hooi was dancing on the stage when Quek approached her and warned her to stop spreading rumours about her. Quek then slapped the Hooi's face four times.
Later, Hooi approached Quek and suggested that they talk outside the club. Hooi had intended to clarify the matter as she felt she had done nothing wrong.
During their confrontation outside the club, Quek pushed Hooi, causing the latter to fall, before returning to the club. Hooi suffered bruises and abrasions due to the incident.
In mitigation, Quek’s lawyer Josephus Tan of Invictus Law had asked for probation, noting that his client was between 20 and 21 years old at the time of the offences.
Tan said that his client was remorseful. The prosecution had not objected to a probation report being called.
Related story:
5 women attacked teen outside St James nightclub for flirting with their friend's boyfriend
