A 29-year-old Singaporean man has been sentenced to four months and three weeks’ jail after attacking another man with a Swiss Army Knife when he discovered his girlfriend drinking with him at a bar in CityLink Mall.
Brandon Tan Ming Hui pleaded guilty on June 25 to one charge of voluntarily causing hurt with a weapon. The incident took place on March 15, 2025, and stemmed from a confrontation driven by jealousy after Tan believed his girlfriend was spending time with other men, Shin Min Daily News reported.
According to court proceedings, Tan had tried contacting his girlfriend earlier that day but became suspicious when she behaved differently during their phone conversations. After learning she was having drinks with friends at a CityLink Mall bar, he decided to head there himself.
When he arrived, Tan saw his girlfriend seated with two men and immediately confronted the group. He demanded to know whether the men knew she was already in a relationship with him.
One of the men, aged 41, reportedly replied that Tan’s girlfriend had introduced herself as being single. He also explained that they were simply having drinks together as friends.
Victim Suffers Hand Injuries After Knife Attack
The situation escalated at around 8:23pm when Tan produced a Swiss Army Knife and slashed the 41-year-old man. Court documents stated that the victim sustained cuts to both hands and shoulders during the assault.
After the attack, Tan fled the scene while the injured man was taken to hospital for treatment. Medical examinations found that he suffered lacerations to both hands and experienced numbness in his left index finger.
Rather than remaining at the scene, Tan made his way to the hotel where his girlfriend was staying. During his journey, he discarded the knife used in the attack.
At the hotel, he packed his belongings and waited for his girlfriend to return. Once she arrived, Tan reportedly persuaded her to gather her belongings, telling her they would be travelling to Genting in Malaysia.
A friend later drove the couple towards Woodlands Checkpoint. However, police arrested Tan before he could leave Singapore.
Defence Says Knife Was Carried For Work
During sentencing, Tan’s defence argued that he worked as a deliveryman and regularly carried the Swiss Army Knife for work-related purposes, such as opening parcels.
His lawyer maintained there was no evidence suggesting Tan had armed himself with the intention of attacking anyone before arriving at the bar. The defence also said the knife was discarded simply because it was old and damaged.
The prosecution disagreed, highlighting that the victim had been unarmed and had done nothing to provoke the assault. Prosecutors further argued there were signs of premeditation, noting that Tan had brought the knife with him and allegedly tried to separate the two men from the bar before confronting them.
They also pointed to Tan’s actions after the incident, including disposing of the weapon and attempting to leave Singapore, as aggravating factors considered by the court.
The court ultimately sentenced Tan to four months and three weeks in jail for the offence involving the use of a weapon.