Couple threatens Town Council staff with knives
by Lianhe Wanbao
11 June 2012 12:17 PM | Updated 12:39 PM
A couple is said to have wielded three knives at staff from a Town Council.
The incident happened at around 6pm on 8 June at a 13th-floor unit of block 791 along Woodlands Ave 6.
The resident of the unit, a 50 year-old engineer known only as Mr Chai, and his wife were angry with the party of seven which also consisted of contractors.
They wanted to remove some of the plants outside the unit after receiving a complaint from their neighbour.
Mr Chai and his neighbour have been in conflict for the past four years. Six police reports have been filed and they’ve been to the mediation court five times. The Town Council was also forced to create a dividing line in the corridor outside their units to prevent further tension.
Witnesses said the couple tussled with the Town Council staff for three hours before the police arrived. According to them, when two contractors started to remove a flower pot, Mr Chai dashed out and snatched the pot back. He then threatened to throw the pot at the staff, but was stopped by a police officer and the others.
At this point, his wife brought out three knives from the kitchen. She was said to have told her husband to let her handle the matter.
An officer is said to have quickly subdued Mrs Chai.
The police took down statements from the couple and took Mr Chai back to the station for further investigation.
Mrs Chai later said that she took the knives to protect her husband.
Mr Chai said that after receiving a notice from the Town Council to remove his plants, he asked for a one-week grace period so that he can give the plants to his friends.
However, he said that contractors and staff from the Town Council insisted that the plants should be removed immediately.
The case is still under investigation.
Source: Lianhe Wanbao , 9 June 2012.
