In a move widely supported by animal rights advocates, the Singapore High Court has increased the jail term of the notorious Ang Mo Kio cat killer, Barrie Lin Pengli, from 14 months to two years and three months. The 33-year-old offender had previously pleaded guilty to multiple counts of animal cruelty after torturing and killing community cats in the Ang Mo Kio area.
The original sentence had taken Lin’s major depressive disorder into account as a mitigating factor. However, following a prosecution appeal, Justice Vincent Hoong deemed the sentence overly lenient and handed down a significantly longer term, calling the offences “among the most heinous cases of animal cruelty that have come before our courts.”
Cats Kicked, Abducted, and Killed in Premeditated Attacks
Lin had targeted five cats between 2022 and 2024, abducting them in small waterproof bags with poor ventilation. In at least two of the cases, the cats were thrown from high floors of HDB blocks. Disturbingly, one cat was reportedly still alive after impact, and Lin stepped on it until it died.
The cruelty was methodical and intentional. Justice Hoong emphasised that Lin’s actions were not impulsive, but calculated and deliberate, noting that “the pain and suffering caused was not accidental—it was the very point.”
While Lin’s defence lawyer cited his mental health struggles and poor impulse control as explanations, the prosecution countered that mental illness “cannot be a licence to harm others.”
Animal Cruelty in Singapore: Calls for Stronger Deterrents
The prosecution had originally sought a 24-month jail sentence but welcomed the extended ruling as a message that animal cruelty will be met with the full force of the law.
Second Chief Prosecutor Isaac Tan said the shorter sentence previously imposed failed to advance the public interest, especially given the gravity of Lin’s actions. Justice Hoong further ruled that Lin was fully aware of what he was doing and did not lose self-control during the offences.
Lin, who was initially slated to start home detention soon, will now serve an extended prison term. His case has sparked renewed public discussion about the adequacy of Singapore’s animal protection laws, especially when offences are tied to mental health claims.
Public Outcry and Legal Precedents
The ruling also compared Lin’s case with another high-profile incident where a man dragged his bleeding dog down an HDB block stairwell before leaving it to die. While the lower court previously considered that case an outlier, Justice Hoong concluded that both were comparable in their deliberate infliction of pain on defenceless animals.
Singaporeans have expressed collective outrage over Lin’s crimes, with many demanding harsher penalties for those who abuse animals. The increased sentence is being seen as a step toward better safeguarding of community animals and upholding societal expectations of justice and compassion.