A gaming feud at Timezone arcade in Orchard took a violent turn when a 23-year-old man stabbed his former teammate after being kicked out of an arcade game group. The altercation has resulted in a 16-month jail sentence and a compensation order of S$954.
Dispute Over Arcade Game Spirals into Harassment and Revenge
Wang You, 23, had regularly played racing games with a group that included the 22-year-old victim at Timezone in Orchard Xchange, located near ION Orchard. However, after being removed from the team, Wang’s anger festered.
In an apparent attempt at digital harassment, Wang enlisted at least two friends on August 11, 2024, to misuse the victim’s phone number on Grab and Lalamove apps. This led to the victim receiving multiple one-time passwords (OTPs), which he reported to the police due to the distress it caused.
Just weeks later, on September 8, both men coincidentally found themselves back at the same arcade. A confrontation broke out when the victim confronted Wang about the suspicious OTPs. During the heated exchange, the victim slapped Wang twice. Although staff intervened, they advised both men to go home rather than involve the police.
The Attack: Knife Stolen from Restaurant, Victim Stabbed
Fuelled by anger and humiliation, Wang made a chilling decision to retaliate. He went to a nearby Japanese restaurant, pretended to ask for help charging his phone, and stole a kitchen knife while staff were distracted. Hiding the blade in his underwear, Wang returned to Timezone, reported Shin Min Daily News.
At around 6:42pm, he attempted to stab the victim in the stomach but missed. As the victim backed away in fear, Wang lunged again, piercing the victim’s clothes and causing a minor wound. Arcade staff managed to restrain Wang, though he later threatened further violence.
The victim suffered a small puncture wound and was treated at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he received two days’ medical leave. The total damage, including his S$800 clothes and S$154 in medical bills, amounted to S$954.
Fraud Linked to Singpass Details Adds to Offences
Further investigations uncovered that Wang had earlier provided his Singpass credentials to an unknown person in March 2024. These details were used to open five bank accounts that were later found to be involved in fraudulent transactions totalling over S$950,000.
While Wang did not orchestrate the fraud himself, his involvement added weight to the charges. He ultimately pleaded guilty to three charges: voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon, breaching the Computer Misuse Act, and violating the Prevention of Harassment Act. Four additional charges were considered during sentencing.
Court Ruling: Jail Time and Compensation
During sentencing, Wang’s lawyer pleaded for leniency, stating that Wang had taken responsibility for his actions, shown remorse, and voluntarily remained in remand to reflect. Despite this, the court imposed a 16-month jail term and a compensation order to reimburse the victim for his losses.
This shocking case underscores the real-world consequences of seemingly trivial disputes, especially when fuelled by online harassment and personal vendettas. Authorities continue to urge the public to handle disagreements peacefully and seek proper resolution channels to avoid violent escalations.
Source: Shin Min Daily News