On Tuesday (Dec 19), 33-year-old Jason Ong Bing Qi pleaded guilty to committing a rash act not amounting to culpable homicide, according to TODAY.
In a shocking turn of events, a night out with friends took a tragic turn for a woman known as “Joey” when she encountered Jason Ong Bing Qi. This article delves into the heartbreaking incident that transpired on the night of Nov 5, leading to a series of events that culminated in a court appearance for Ong.
Background of the Incident
Joey, a 33-year-old woman, had been friends with Ong since early last year. The night in question unfolded at Club VOX in Central Mall, where Joey was enjoying an evening out with three friends. Ong, also at the club, crossed paths with Joey, setting the stage for the unfortunate events that followed.
As the night progressed, Joey’s friends began to head home due to the effects of alcohol. Ong, aware of Joey’s intoxicated state, offered to book a ride for them. However, the inability to secure transportation led them to the taxi stand at Magazine Road. Frustration grew as they walked towards Merchant Road, and Joey, visibly impaired, sat down on the ground.
In a moment of frustration, Ong threw Joey’s mobile phone onto a grass patch. The situation escalated near Raffles Education Square, where Ong, unable to persuade Joey to go home, forcefully swung her to the ground. Shockingly captured by CCTV, the impact of the fall was so severe that she was seen flipping over in the middle of her fall, remaining on the ground motionless as Ong walked back to the club.
Discovery and Aftermath
Passersby discovered Joey motionless on the ground about 20 minutes later. They brought her to a sheltered walkway to rest but she was mumbling throughout, before her phone ring and she answered, passing the phone to one of the kind samaritans.
One of them happened to be a grab driver and spoke to her friend over the phone, agreeing to send her back home for a fee of $50, however she kept tilting her head to one side as she closed her eyes and sounded like she was about to vomit in the car, as well as grunting.
The driver then escorted the woman to her home where her maid helped her inside, before cleaning her up, changing her clothes and leaving her to sleep on the bed.
Her husband later returned home at about 3.30am and heard her snoring, and sometime around 11am, he woke up and saw that she was still snoring so he went out to get lunch.
When he came back home at about 3pm, he discovered that she was no longer snoring, her eyes were open but her unresponsive body was cold.
Tragically, she was pronounced dead at 3.33pm, with the autopsy revealing severe injuries, including internal bleeding in the head, fractures in her skull and right rib, as well as other injuries.
Legal Proceedings
Ong, acknowledging the excessive force used, pleaded guilty to committing a rash act. The sentencing, scheduled for Jan 16, 2024, awaits the High Court’s decision over a similar offence. The legal implications and potential consequences for Ong underscore the gravity of his actions.