30-year-old Kumaran Tanggapan, was sentenced on 18 October to 5 years jail and 6 strokes of the cane, after pleading guilty to a charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt by using a knife to slash at the victim and cut off his right index finger. The accused initially claimed trial, but pleaded guilty after the trial had proceeded for three days, according to a judgement that was released.
What happened?
On March 5, 2022. A 27-year-old man, Karthik Kanesan, accompanied by his female friend, found himself embroiled in a shocking and violent encounter with a man named Tanggapan Suppaiyya, who is the father of the accused.
What began as a dispute over alleged staring soon escalated into a disturbing incident that resulted in a man’s index finger being chopped off with a 40cm knife.
The incident started at a traffic light junction in Ang Mo Kio when Karthik and Tanggapan crossed paths. An argument erupted, fueled by the belief that one had been staring at the other. Tempers flared, and the situation quickly spiraled out of control.
Tanggapan, determined to settle the dispute, took a drastic step. He summoned his son, Kumaran Tanggapan, for assistance.
A Swift Descent into Violence
Kumaran arrived at the scene, armed with a knife, and a confrontation ensued. The confrontation took a horrifying turn when Kumaran slashed the man’s right index finger off with the knife. The severity of the act left bystanders in shock, and the victim in excruciating pain.
The choice of weapon in this disturbing incident was a 40-cm-long knife with a 30cm blade.
Realizing the gravity of his actions, Kumaran fled the scene, leaving the victim in dire need of medical attention. He drove home and disposed of the incriminating knife in a rubbish chute.
Kumaran then went to his girlfriend’s home at Yishun and fell asleep, before the police later tracked him down and arrested him.
The victim was conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for immediate medical attention.
Kumaran has also since appealed against his sentence.