In a shocking turn of events, a 33-year-old woman, Lim Si Hui, has been sentenced earlier today (26 January) to four years in jail for an unexpected and violent act: pouring boiling soup on her 26-year-old male friend Martin Boey after a heated argument, according to The Straits Times.
She pleaded guilty earlier this month (2 January) to voluntarily causing grievous hurt, with another charge of slapping the victim being considered for her sentence.
What happened?
According to The Straits Times and TODAY. the dispute happened back in 19 April 2022 and began at FML Bar, resulting in Lim’s mobile phone being damaged and her subsequent angry reaction, slapping Mr Boey.
Later, at a nearby restaurant where Mr Boey was having supper with friends, Lim, after informing her husband about the argument, decided to confront the victim. Ignoring her husband’s attempts to stop her, she proceeded to the restaurant.
Upon reaching Mr Boey’s table, Lim flipped a hotpot with boiling soup onto him while he was seated. The scalding liquid caused excruciating pain, and Mr Boey slipped on the wet floor as he attempted to remove his shirt.
His girlfriend and another friend then removed his shirt and pulled his pants and underwear down to his lower thighs in an attempt to help him as he lost consciousness, while exposed in full view of the other patrons.
He subsequently regained his consciousness and sprayed water on his burns before being sent to Singapore General Hospital.
Severe Injuries and Medical Consequences
Deputy Public Prosecutor Santhra Aiyyasamy revealed that Mr Boey experienced significant burns covering 31 percent of his total body surface area.
The severity of his injuries necessitated skin grafting procedures, and he was granted 15 days’ hospitalization leave. The victim’s girlfriend and a friend assisted in removing his shirt and attending to his injuries in full view of other patrons at the restaurant.
Legal battle
Deputy Public Prosecutor Santhra Aiyyasamy sought a jail term ranging from 5½ to six years, Aiyyasamy emphasized the severity of the attack, highlighting that Lim’s actions led to Mr. Boey suffering extensive injuries and permanent scars.
On the other side of the legal spectrum, Lim’s lawyer, Amolat Singh, presented a defense centered around the absence of premeditation in Lim’s attack.
Arguing for a reduced jail term of 2½ to three years, Singh aimed to portray the incident as a spur-of-the-moment reaction rather than a calculated assault.
Additionally, Singh brought attention to Mr. Boey’s alleged provocation, stating that he had thrown Lim’s phone on the floor and attempted to bend it.