(Left to right) Lawyer Melissa Kor, Shi Ka Yee and her Lawyer lrving Choh are seen leaving the State Courts. ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
This photo taken in June 2016 shows Shi Ka Yee leaving the courthouse.PHOTO: ZAOBAO
A very large rain tree growing inside the compound of 12 Astrid Hill became the centre of a neighbourly dispute because of branches overhanging into the compound of 13 Astrid Hill.ST PHOTO: DANIEL NEO
SINGAPORE - A 71-year-old woman who was embroiled in a dispute with her neighbour over an old raintree was charged in court on Friday (July 29) with five offences.
Four of them relate to an incident on Feb 17 last year at the posh Astrid Hill, where the parties live, while the other was an unrelated case of assault in 2014.
Shi Ka Yee is accused of punching Mr Raphael Chong Yen Ping, 58, in the face, causing a cut above his right eyebrow at Telok Ayer Street on Feb 25, 2014.
On Feb 17 last year, she allegedly trespassed into Mr Nasrat Lucas Muzayyin's bungalow and removed an ignition key from a crane, immobilising it and trapping a worker, Mr Ankathi Thirupathi, in the crane bucket.
She is said to have confined Mr Ankathi there for more than an hour.
The fourth charge states that she committed a rash act to endanger others' safety by revving her sports car engine and moving it towards Mr Muzayyin while he was standing in front of the car.
She is also accused of hurling abuse and expletives at Mr Muzayyin with intent to harass him that morning.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Zhuo Wenzhao asked that no plea be taken. He said Shi is being investigated by the Traffic Police for an incident along Orchard Road last month.
Shi had stopped her Ferrari in the middle of the road in front of a tour bus and blocked off three out of five lanes, which caused a traffic jam along Orchard Road.
He said the prosecution would need some time to complete investigation.
Shi, represented by Mr Irving Choh, was granted bail of $15,000. Her passport has been impounded.
A pre-trial conference is fixed for Aug 24.
In his judgment last week, Justice Choo Han Teck rejected Shi's request to appeal against a lower court decision ordering her to pay $9,800 in damages to her neighbour and trim the tree's branches.
She was sued by Mr Muzayyin and his wife following a conflict over the overhanging branches of the tree on her property.
Putting an end to the dispute, Justice Choo said there was no merit in letting the case incur any more court time when cases with greater social issues are waiting in line.
