SINGAPORE – When army regular Shawnald Lee Hong Heng returned home to find a man in his bedroom looking like he was trying to take advantage of his wife, he punched him in the face several times.
The victim, Mr Donovan Quek Hon Yong, had fractures in the eye socket area as well as loose and chipped teeth.
On Tuesday (July 26), Lee, 25, a military expert in the SAF, was jailed for five weeks for hurting Mr Quek, 25, at his Yishun flat on July 10 in 2015. He pleaded guilty.
Investigations showed that Mr Quek and Lee’s wife, Ms Wong Kai Yan, 23, had been out drinking with friends in a pub at about 1am that day.
As Ms Wong was drunk, Mr Quek helped to send her home in a taxi.
Shortly later, Lee returned home, accompanied by his friend, Mr Tan Jing Sheng, 25, who waited at the void deck as they intended to go out drinking if Ms Wong was already asleep.
When Lee saw his wife lying on the bed looking drowsy and Mr Quek sitting on the same side of the bed, he presumed Mr Quek was trying to take advantage of her and punched the victim in his face several times.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Jason Chua said Lee stopped only when his wife intervened.
Lee later went downstairs. He and Mr Tan went to the flat to get Mr Quek to explain.
But when Lee saw the victim still at his home, he tried to hit Mr Quek but was restrained by Mr Tan. Lee’s wife told him it was a misunderstanding.
Mr Quek left shortly and took a taxi to Yishun North Neighbourhood Police Centre to lodge a police report. He was taken to hospital for medical examination.
Earlier this year, Mr Quek had dental implants to replace the upper teeth.
Lee’s lawyer T.M. Sinnadurai had asked the court to consider probation. He said his client found his wife in her underwear, and became emotionally disturbed and lost his self-control. He said Lee is taking care of their young daughter as his wife is now in a drug rehabilitation centre.
DPP Chua said Lee only told the police in his statement that his wife was not wearing a shirt as she had vomited and taken it off. He said the prosecution could not confirm whether she was in her bra and panties as her legs were covered with a blanket.
He said probation was inappropriate and asked for a sentence of six to 10 weeks’ jail.
Lee could have been jailed for up to two years and/or fined up to $5,000 for causing hurt.
This article was first published on July 26, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
