PRC Father & Son Fly to S’pore Just to Whack Malaysian Man Over Failed S$18,000 Investment
A father-and-son duo from China travelled all the way to Singapore to confront a Malaysian businessman after an S$18,000 investment went sour.
However, their attempt to recover their money ended with both men behind bars after they assaulted the investor at a carpark in VivoCity.
Gao Zhenhan, 25, and his 50-year-old father, Gao Yong, were each sentenced to 10 weeks’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to voluntarily causing hurt.
According to court documents reported by The Straits Times, the pair had originally invested in Singapore businesses in the hope of obtaining work passes to live and work here.
Sold Family Car And Took Bank Loans To Raise S$18,000
In April 2026, the two men, who reside in China, hoped to establish a shop in Singapore.
They approached a Singaporean contact for assistance with their work pass applications. Through this contact, the younger Gao was introduced to a 35-year-old Malaysian national who invested in several food and beverage businesses in Singapore.
In May 2026, the younger Gao began communicating with the businessman through WeChat about investing in one of his ventures.
The businessman subsequently offered him an opportunity to invest in a beverage shop located at Kent Ridge Medical Centre.
To raise the necessary funds, the father and son sold their family car and took out bank loans. They eventually transferred S$18,000 into the business.
However, their plans to obtain Singapore work passes did not materialise.
Work Pass Applications Failed, Investment Refund Not Received
The businessman later informed the pair that their work pass applications had been unsuccessful.
The father and son then requested a refund of their investment, but the businessman did not return the money.
Frustrated with the situation, the two men eventually decided to travel from China to Singapore to confront him.
On October 14, 2026, they arrived in Singapore and headed to the beverage shop at Kent Ridge Medical Centre to look for the businessman.
However, they could not find him.
Interestingly, the pair had not arranged accommodation for their stay and ended up sleeping rough in the surrounding area overnight.
The following morning, they returned to the shop but again failed to locate the investor.
Father & Son Eventually Found Investor At VivoCity
The pair later travelled by train to VivoCity to have a meal.
By coincidence, they spotted the 35-year-old businessman working at a food stall inside the shopping mall’s food court.
The two approached him, but the businessman walked towards his car in the carpark.
The father and son followed him.
When the businessman reached his vehicle, Gao Yong allegedly rushed towards him and swung his hand at his head.
He then grabbed the victim around his upper body and pushed him into the passenger seat of the car.
The father held the businessman down to prevent him from escaping, while his son subsequently joined in.
The pair confronted the victim over the missing investment before repeatedly punching him.
Victim Restrained With Rope As Pair Demanded Money
The court heard that the confrontation lasted approximately one and a half minutes.
At one point, the father allegedly used a long rope to tie the victim’s neck to the car’s headrest before the assault continued.
The pair demanded repayment of approximately 200,000 yuan, equivalent to around S$38,300.
The victim refused and offered to pay S$5,000 instead.
However, the father rejected the offer.
The victim subsequently increased his offer to S$10,000, but this was also turned down.
The entire incident was captured by CCTV cameras in the carpark.
Security Officers Alert Police
The situation eventually came to an end when two security officers approached the vehicle and knocked on its door.
They subsequently contacted the police after becoming aware of the assault.
Both men were arrested shortly afterwards.
The victim suffered abrasions around his neck, as well as superficial injuries to his face, neck and shoulders. He also experienced pain in the areas where he had been punched.
The father and son were each charged with voluntarily causing hurt, an offence punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.
Father Received Same Sentence As Son
During sentencing submissions, the prosecution sought between eight and 10 weeks’ imprisonment for the younger Gao, while seeking between 12 and 14 weeks for his father.
Prosecutors argued that the father’s culpability was greater because he had initiated the assault.
However, both men ultimately received 10 weeks’ imprisonment after pleading guilty.
What began as an attempt to invest in a Singapore business and secure employment opportunities here ended with the father and son being jailed after travelling from China to confront the businessman.
The case also highlights how a business dispute can escalate into a criminal matter when parties take the law into their own hands.