More than 13 years’ jail for married man who slashed ex-lover’s new boyfriend at HDB void deck

A 64-year-old married man who stabbed and slashed his former lover’s new boyfriend at an HDB void deck was sentenced to 13 years and eight months’ jail on March 27.

Ong Eng Siew also punched his former lover, identified in court as “Berlin”, after knifing her boyfriend, Mr Ku Teck Eng.

After fleeing the scene, Ong sent Berlin numerous voice messages, asking her not to call the police, saying that it was all her fault, and that Mr Ku should settle the matter with him without informing the police if he was “(a) man”.

The incident in Choa Chu Kang took place in June 2021.

In January, Ong pleaded guilty in the High Court to a charge of attempted murder and a charge of voluntarily causing hurt.

Another three charges – two for causing hurt and one for obstructing the course of justice – were taken into consideration during sentencing.

In sentencing him, High Court judge Mavis Chionh cited the viciousness of the attack, the public alarm caused and Ong’s self-induced alcohol intoxication as aggravating factors.

Justice Chionh noted that Ong persisted in attacking Mr Ku, who was then 52 years old, even after the victim had tripped over a kerb and fallen to the ground.

The prosecution had sought a jail term of between 10 years and eight weeks’ and 12 years and 10 weeks, while the defence had asked for seven to eight years’ jail.

A major point of contention between the two sides was whether Ong’s adjustment disorder had contributed to his actions.

The judge preferred the analysis of the defence’s psychiatrist, Dr Rajesh Jacob, and accepted that the disorder had a major contributory link to Ong’s offences.

But she ultimately concluded that this had fairly limited weight in mitigation.

On the other hand, Justice Chionh took into account that Ong had pleaded guilty and had shown remorse by voluntarily paying a compensation of $2,000 to Mr Ku.

Ong’s wife and son, who attended the hearing, were allowed to speak to him after the court session.

The court was earlier told that Ong, a father of three, was in a relationship with Berlin for 1½ years from November 2019.

Berlin found out in September 2020 that he was married and confronted him, but he lied that he was separated from his wife.

In January 2021, Ong started drinking excessively and spending most of his salary as a driver betting on horses.

In April that year, Berlin, who was 42 years at the time, told him that she wanted to end their relationship.

Around this time, she started a relationship with Mr Ku.

From May 2021, Ong pestered Berlin with text messages and phone calls while drunk, and also looked for her on four occasions.

Once, while they were in his van, he became upset after she admitted that she was in a new relationship.

When she tried to leave the van, he slammed her head against the vehicle, pushed her back into the passenger seat and drove around while punching her.

She lodged a police report against him over the assault.

Ong continued sending messages to her. When she blocked him on WhatsApp, he sent her e-mails, declaring his love for her.

On June 12 that year, after drinking beer from noon to 8pm, Ong headed to her home at Block 407 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3. At the void deck, he placed a knife by a dustbin and waited.

At about 9.25pm, Ong confronted the couple after they arrived there.

He took the knife from the corner of the bin, walked towards Mr Ku, and shouted in Hokkien: “I will make sure you die.”

He slashed the left shoulder of Mr Ku, who tripped and fell while trying to back away.

As the victim lay on the grass, Ong stabbed him in the chest and slashed him in the abdomen.

When Berlin tried to stop him, Ong pushed her, causing her to fall into a drain. He then punched her in the shoulder.

Mr Ku escaped to a nearby provision shop to seek help. Residents in the neighbouring block shouted at Ong and called the police. As he fled from the scene, Ong threw the knife into a drain near the block.

Mr Ku underwent two operations and was hospitalised for nine days.

A report from the Health Sciences Authority said that the stab wound on his chest would have been fatal without emergency medical intervention.

The report added that the wound to his abdomen caused part of the bowel to protrude, which could have led to death from infection without surgical intervention.

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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