In a shocking incident at an HDB lift in Yishun, a 59-year-old man brutally attacked his 62-year-old flatmate with a knife after suspecting that his girlfriend had been cheating on him with the flatmate.
Abdul Karim s/o V. Sickandar was sentenced on Tuesday (13 June) to 12 years imprisonment with an enhanced sentence of 100 days jail after pleading guilty to four charges that included consumption and possession of methamphetamine and causing hurt to the victims with a weapon. Three more charges were considered during his sentencing by the court.
What happened?
The attack took place on June 13, 2022, when the assailant, Abdul Karim s/o V. Sickandar, returned home around 8:19 PM. Fueled by suspicion, anger, and the influence of alcohol and drugs, he hoped to catch his flatmate with his girlfriend, whom he believed was having an affair with the victim. However, unable to find anyone in the flat, Karim became increasingly agitated.
Coincidentally, the victim and his girlfriend (not the suspect’s girlfriend) returned to the block around 8:25 PM. Worried about confronting Karim, they called the police, hoping for assistance. When they noticed the police car empty, they assumed the officers had gone up to the flat to handle the situation. Unbeknownst to them, Karim was waiting at the 10th-floor lift lobby, intending to confront his flatmate and his girlfriend.
As the lift doors opened, Karim immediately recognized his flatmate and entered the lift. With a 26-cm knife in hand, he launched a vicious attack on the victim. The victim’s girlfriend tried to intervene but was also slashed by Karim. She managed to escape from the lift, running along the 10th-floor corridor, seeking help.
The assault continued inside the lift as it descended, with Karim relentlessly slashing and stabbing his flatmate. At one point, the victim slipped and fell on the pool of blood accumulating on the lift floor. Even as he lay on the ground, he attempted to defend himself by kicking Karim, but his efforts proved futile.
Finally, upon reaching the ground floor, the police ordered Karim to stop. They had arrived earlier but were attempting to locate the victim and his girlfriend before confronting Karim. Ignoring the orders, Karim threw a small knife at his flatmate when instructed to drop it, but it missed its mark. Subsequently, the police disarmed and arrested him.
Accused flatmate of having affair with his girlfriend
According to court documents, Karim had previously served a seven-year and six-month prison sentence for drug-related offenses. He was released on a remission order on April 13, 2020. Subsequently, he rented a flat in Yishun Street 51 and began a relationship with a woman known as “Tuti.” However, over time, Karim became suspicious that his flatmate was trying to develop a relationship with “Tuti.”
These suspicions led to multiple confrontations, where Karim angrily accused his flatmate of having an affair. The flatmate denied the allegations and eventually moved out of the flat a week before the tragic incident occurred.
Lacerations
The victims, the flatmate, and his girlfriend, were rushed to the emergency department of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital for treatment. They suffered multiple deep lacerations on various parts of their bodies, including the thigh, flank, and arm. Emergency surgeries were performed to close their wounds. Both victims were assessed to have permanent scarring resulting from the attack.
History of violence
The deputy public prosecutor argued for an aggregate sentence of 14 to 15 years’ imprisonment, highlighting the premeditated and brutal nature of the attack. The prosecutor emphasized that Karim was the aggressor and displayed senseless violence not only toward his flatmate but also toward his flatmate’s girlfriend, who was unrelated to the confrontation. The prosecutor also pointed out Karim’s history of violence and drug offenses, suggesting a pattern of escalating aggression.