A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison after attempting to seize an auxiliary police officer’s firearm while receiving treatment at Changi General Hospital (CGH).
The incident happened after he became increasingly frustrated when his repeated requests for a nail clipper were rejected by hospital staff.
Court proceedings revealed that Goh Chuan Chong was an inpatient at the hospital on August 3, 2024, although the reason for his admission was not disclosed.
What began as a seemingly minor disagreement eventually escalated into a serious offence involving a loaded firearm.
Repeated Rejections Led To Agitation
According to court documents, Goh first asked a nurse for a nail clipper while he was warded at CGH.
His request was denied, and he repeated the same request the following day.
After being turned down for a second time, his behaviour reportedly became increasingly agitated and aggressive, causing concern among hospital staff.
As a precaution, nurses sought assistance from auxiliary police officers stationed within the hospital.
Two officers responded to the call and approached Goh, who was seated on his bed and initially appeared calm and cooperative.
Attempted To Grab Loaded Revolver
However, the situation suddenly escalated when one of the officers moved closer.
Goh allegedly reached for the officer’s revolver, which was secured inside a holster attached to the officer’s waist.
The firearm contained five live rounds at the time.
Fortunately, he was unable to remove the weapon because the holster’s safety mechanism remained engaged.
The officer immediately pushed Goh’s hand away and stepped back before the situation could become more dangerous.
During investigations, Goh later admitted that he intended to use the firearm to shoot himself because he was upset after being denied the nail clipper.
Court Considered Mental Health Factors
Goh was arrested on August 4, 2024, and remained in remand until his sentencing.
He eventually pleaded guilty to one charge of attempting to unlawfully possess a firearm.
Prosecutors informed the court that his mental condition should be given some mitigating consideration, although further details were not publicly disclosed.
On June 17, 2026, he was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment.
Under Singapore law, unlawful possession of a firearm is a serious offence that generally carries a punishment of between five and 10 years’ jail, along with a mandatory minimum of six strokes of the cane.
However, because Goh was convicted of attempting to possess a firearm rather than successfully obtaining one, the mandatory minimum sentence did not apply.
The prosecution also did not seek caning.
Authorities Stress Seriousness Of Firearm-Related Offences
Singapore maintains some of the world’s strictest laws regarding firearms, with severe penalties imposed to safeguard public safety.
Even unsuccessful attempts involving firearms are treated with utmost seriousness due to the potential consequences if a weapon falls into unauthorised hands.
The incident also highlights the importance of hospital security measures and the quick actions of auxiliary police officers, which prevented a potentially tragic outcome.