http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_387943.html
Beaten to death by friend
By Esther Tan
HE HAD gone to get his money back from a friend but ended up being beaten to death.
Former sales consultant Tan Chye Hong, 43, was sentenced to three and a half years' jail and given six strokes of the cane on Tuesday for beating painter Teo Chye Huat, 49, up and causing his death last year.
The court heard that the two men had arranged to meet at Block 79, Circuit Road, on July 5, for Tan to settle a debt with Mr Teo.
But after meeting, a dispute broke out between them as Tan did not return the full amount of $700 that he owed Mr Teo. When Mr Teo kicked Tan, he responded by raining punches on Mr Teo, even after he had fallen down.
He also kicked Mr Teo several times in the head when he was down on the ground and when he tried to get up.
After the altercation, Tan left the scene but he was arrested the following day.
Mr Teo was found lying on the pavement near a bus-stop in the vicinity. On arrival at the hospital, he slipped into a coma and underwent surgery to his head. He died about a month later.
In mitigation, Tan's lawyer Anand Nalachandran said that his client and Mr Teo were friends who drank together regularly at the coffeeshop. But the pair fell out after Mr Teo accused Tan of causing him to lose money in a football bet.
He pointed out that Tan, who is married with three children, was drunk when Mr Teo arrived and had 'impaired impulse control and judgement'. He also said that Mr Teo had taunted Tan when he could not return the full amount. Also, it was Mr Teo who had initiated the altercation by kicking at Tan first.
Mr Teo's wife, Madam Chue Lai Lin, was present at the sentencing. She said she had come to seek a closure to the case.
For voluntarily causing grievous hurt, Tan could have been jailed up to ten years and be fined or caned.
Beaten to death by friend
By Esther Tan
HE HAD gone to get his money back from a friend but ended up being beaten to death.
Former sales consultant Tan Chye Hong, 43, was sentenced to three and a half years' jail and given six strokes of the cane on Tuesday for beating painter Teo Chye Huat, 49, up and causing his death last year.
The court heard that the two men had arranged to meet at Block 79, Circuit Road, on July 5, for Tan to settle a debt with Mr Teo.
But after meeting, a dispute broke out between them as Tan did not return the full amount of $700 that he owed Mr Teo. When Mr Teo kicked Tan, he responded by raining punches on Mr Teo, even after he had fallen down.
He also kicked Mr Teo several times in the head when he was down on the ground and when he tried to get up.
After the altercation, Tan left the scene but he was arrested the following day.
Mr Teo was found lying on the pavement near a bus-stop in the vicinity. On arrival at the hospital, he slipped into a coma and underwent surgery to his head. He died about a month later.
In mitigation, Tan's lawyer Anand Nalachandran said that his client and Mr Teo were friends who drank together regularly at the coffeeshop. But the pair fell out after Mr Teo accused Tan of causing him to lose money in a football bet.
He pointed out that Tan, who is married with three children, was drunk when Mr Teo arrived and had 'impaired impulse control and judgement'. He also said that Mr Teo had taunted Tan when he could not return the full amount. Also, it was Mr Teo who had initiated the altercation by kicking at Tan first.
Mr Teo's wife, Madam Chue Lai Lin, was present at the sentencing. She said she had come to seek a closure to the case.
For voluntarily causing grievous hurt, Tan could have been jailed up to ten years and be fined or caned.
