A man who became involved in a violent confrontation outside a Singapore bar after drinking with friends has been sentenced to two years and three weeks in prison, following his return to Singapore after spending about four years overseas.
According to Shin Min Daily News, Yang Zhenwei, 35, is understood to have become involved in the incident after he and his friends believed that customers at a neighbouring table were staring at them. What began as a dispute inside the bar escalated into a physical attack involving weapons.
Yang faced 12 charges, including intentionally causing hurt with a dangerous weapon, acting recklessly in a manner that endangered human life, and offences under Singapore’s immigration laws. He admitted to four charges, while the remaining charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.
Dispute Escalated After Bar Patrons Were Confronted
The incident occurred on the night of 21 March 2021, when Yang was drinking with three friends at a bar in Central Mall.
About half an hour after they arrived, Yang and his companions allegedly became convinced that customers at a nearby table were looking at them in a hostile manner. The group then began throwing items including drinking glasses, bottles and an ice bucket towards the other patrons.
The disturbance eventually led to bar staff removing Yang and his friends from the premises.
However, the confrontation did not end there. The group remained outside the bar, where two of Yang’s companions were reportedly armed — one carrying a baton and another holding a knife.
At around 9.40pm, a 30-year-old Vietnamese national and his friend left the bar. Yang and his companions allegedly took issue with what they perceived as an arrogant attitude and decided to confront them.
The victim was then attacked by the four men. The assault lasted approximately 11 seconds and was captured by nearby closed-circuit television cameras.
Victim Suffered Multiple Injuries
The injured man was subsequently taken to Singapore General Hospital for emergency treatment.
Medical examinations found cuts to the back of his head, shoulder and back. He also suffered a collapsed lung on the right side, known medically as a pneumothorax.
Yang was arrested following the incident and was later released on bail. He was expected to appear in court on 16 November 2021.
Instead, he left Singapore before the scheduled court proceedings.
Man Allegedly Used Small Boat To Leave Singapore
Investigations subsequently established that Yang travelled to Pulau Ubin in October 2021 before leaving Singapore by boat.
He reportedly travelled by one small vessel before transferring to another boat and making his way illegally into Malaysia. He eventually reached Batu Pahat, where he remained for several years.
His time overseas did not keep him away from law enforcement. In June 2022, Yang was arrested in Malaysia over a suspected offence involving illegal items.
He remained in Malaysia until he was eventually deported and returned to Singapore on 27 November 2025.
Following his return, proceedings relating to the 2021 assault resumed. The court considered both the seriousness of the attack and Yang’s decision to evade the Singapore justice system for several years.
He was ultimately sentenced on Thursday, 27 August, to two years and three weeks’ imprisonment.
The case highlights the potentially serious legal consequences of violence involving weapons, as well as the additional complications that can arise when an accused person leaves Singapore while facing criminal proceedings.