In a shocking turn of events, an intoxicated excavator operator got engaged in a fight that resulted in the grievous injury of a co-worker – he had bitten off the co-worker’s finger, according to The Straits Times.
40-year-old Thangarasu Rengasamy, pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Nagooran Balasubramaniam, an electrical engineering technician.
He was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment on Friday (15 September).
The Unsettling Night
The incident occurred on a fateful night, April 22, in Kaki Bukit, where both Thangarasu and Nagooran, both Indian nationals, resided in separate foreign worker dormitories.
They were drinking alcohol as Nagooran and his friend, construction worker Ramamoorthy Anantharaj, 33, engaged in some drinks along Kaki Bukit Avenue 3.
In a scene that would later turn into a nightmarish ordeal, Thangarasu, seated approximately 5 meters away, suddenly erupted into a fit of shouting. An irritated Ramamoorthy requested him to lower his voice.
The Violent Outburst
As tensions escalated, Thangarasu, under the influence of alcohol, made an aggressive move towards Ramamoorthy with his right hand raised menacingly. In a spontaneous reaction, Ramamoorthy responded by slapping him. The spark ignited, leading to an fight between the two men.
Amidst this chaos, Nagooran Balasubramanian attempted to intervene, unknowingly putting himself in harm’s way. In the midst of the struggle, Nagooran’s left index finger inadvertently found its way into Thangarasu’s mouth.
Thangarasu then chomped down forcefully on Nagooran’s finger and refused to let go.
The trio tumbled to the ground, with Thangarasu still clenching his vice-like grip on Nagooran’s finger. Despite Ramamoorthy’s attempts to pull Thangarasu away, the excavator operator showed no signs of relenting.
Finally, after a few agonizing seconds, Nagooran managed to extricate himself from Thangarasu’s grasp, only to discover the gruesome aftermath. His finger had been partially amputated, leaving him in excruciating pain.
Swiftly, he washed his wound with water and realized the severity of the injury. In a state of panic, Nagooran contacted the authorities, leading to his immediate transfer to Changi General Hospital.
The medical assessment confirmed the partial amputation of his finger, requiring urgent surgery. However, in an unexpected turn of events, Nagooran discharged himself from the hospital against medical advice on April 23, possibly due to concerns over medical costs, which were not disclosed in court. He was subsequently granted 14 days of hospitalization leave.