53-year-old Salvaduri Ahpiah Maniam, who is described as being “stateless” according to The Straits Times, had an argument with 66-year-old Woo Jit Kuen while they were having drinks together.
The situation escalated when Salvaduri resorted to physical violence, resulting in the victim falling, hitting his head, and ultimately succumbing to his injuries while receiving medical treatment.
The deceased was of smaller stature, weighing approximately half of Salvaduri’s weight, and slightly taller at around 163cm. Salvaduri pleaded guilty to three charges, including the offense of voluntarily causing hurt leading to grievous harm. Consequently, he has been sentenced to three years, six months, and three days of imprisonment.
The other two charges against Salvaduri were related to being intoxicated in a public place and violating Covid-19 regulations during the circuit breaker period by gathering with two friends to consume alcohol and chat at a public location on April 18, 2020. Prior to the assault, legal proceedings were already underway regarding these offenses.
During the incident, which occurred on July 3, 2022, Salvaduri arrived at Block 448 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10. He had consumed a can of beer and initially intended to place bets at a nearby Singapore Pools outlet. However, due to the long queue, he postponed his gambling activities and noticed two groups of people enjoying beer outside a McDonald’s restaurant. Recognizing familiar faces, Salvaduri joined them.
As the afternoon progressed, Salvaduri, his friend S. Ponniah, and Woo were the only individuals left from the group. Both Salvaduri and Mr. Woo were inebriated and, for reasons unknown, an argument ensued between them. In the heat of the dispute, Woo grabbed Salvaduri’s T-shirt, further escalating the situation. Angered by this and the ongoing argument, Salvaduri struck Woo in the face with a punch.
The force of the blow caused Woo to fall backward, hitting the hard concrete surface and resulting in a head injury that led to bleeding. Realizing the severity of the situation, Salvaduri called for an ambulance. However, he intentionally omitted the fact that he had punched Woo in order to evade arrest. He maintained this deception when questioned by both the police officers and paramedics who arrived at the scene. Subsequently, after speaking with a police officer, Salvaduri left the location on his bicycle.
Woo was promptly transported to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, but unfortunately, his injuries proved fatal, and he passed away two days later due to extensive brain damage. Authorities invested considerable resources to locate Salvaduri, leading to his arrest on July 7, 2022.
During the court proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Huo Jiongrui argued for a four-year prison sentence for Salvaduri, stating that instead of using his significant advantage in size and relatively sober state to resolve the dispute peacefully, the accused decided to respond with an angry punch to the deceased’s face. In the end, District Judge Lee Lit Cheng sentenced Salvaduri to three years and six months’ imprisonment for the assault.
Judge Lee highlighted that Woo was not particularly vulnerable, distinguishing this case from a previous incident in which a 36-year-old man received a four-year prison sentence for a similar offense. In that instance, the assailant, Allan Chua Kim Wee, had charged at and struck a 74-year-old man with a walking stick, resulting in the elderly man’s fatal fall later that day. Prior to the attack, Chua had taken pictures of the older man smoking in a void deck, intending to file a complaint. Chua’s case served as a point of reference, emphasizing the severity of such offenses.
Salvaduri’s act of voluntarily causing hurt that resulted in grievous harm carries a maximum penalty of up to five years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. However, the court settled on a sentence of three years and six months’ imprisonment, taking into consideration the circumstances surrounding the incident, the lack of vulnerability on the victim’s part, and the absence of any previous criminal record for Salvaduri.