In a distressing incident at a hawker centre in Bedok South Road, 56-year-old Ang Ah Lak faced legal consequences for a violent encounter resulting in the death of a 69-year-old man.
The court heard that Ang, involved in several prior altercations and known for shouting insulting words at public servants, was sentenced to 25 months and 12 weeks’ jail on January 2, 2024, according to Channel NewsAsia.
The Fatal Altercation
On July 12, 2022, a verbal dispute between Ang and the elderly man escalated into a physical altercation. The dispute began when Ang, while offering prayers at an altar, insisted that an area near the altar be cleaned immediately. This request led to an argument with Mr. Mondal Dipongkar, a cleaner at the hawker centre.
The elderly man, noticing the argument, approached Ang, and a heated exchange ensued. During the scuffle, Ang picked up metal tongs and struck the elderly man’s forehead before shoving him, causing the 69-year-old to fall unconscious and bleed. Despite Ang checking on the victim and dragging him to a nearby pillar, the elderly man later succumbed to head injuries.
Legal Charges
Ang faced multiple charges, including three under the Protection from Harassment Act, one for being a public nuisance, one for failing to report for bail, and one for voluntarily causing hurt. The court considered his prior incidents of shouting abusive words at public servants, emphasizing a pattern of aggressive behavior.
Prior Incidents
Before the fatal encounter, Ang was involved in various altercations. On May 29, 2022, he shouted at a bus captain and passengers after being told to pay the full bus fare. A week later, he again refused to pay his fare, hurling vulgarities at public servants. The incidents escalated when he refused to wear a mask on a bus and caused a nuisance at Changi General Hospital.
Sentence and Mental Health Assessment
Ang’s sentence, seeking a range from 22 months and 12 weeks to 24 months and 14 weeks, took into account his history of violent convictions. Despite being assessed by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) as suffering from schizophrenia, the condition was deemed unrelated to the commission of the offense.