Knife-wielding patient goes berserk at Sengkang hospital, gets six weeks in the slammer
Coconuts SingaporeWed, 27 December 2023 at 8:52 am GMT
A 48-year-old man who went on a rampage at Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) with a Swiss Army knife and a mouthful of Hokkien swear words has been slapped with a six-week jail sentence.
As reported by The Straits Times, Sim Wee Meng admitted in court to two counts of harassment on Tuesday, while four other charges, including one of carrying a deadly weapon, were considered during sentencing.
The court heard that Sim was rushed to SKH on March 20, 2021, at about 6am, due to a high heart rate. After a doctor drew his blood, Sim, reportedly in a state of drug-induced paranoia, accused the doctor of spiking him with cannabis and ecstasy. The doctor tried to calm him down and told him he was just doing his job, but Sim was not having it.
He later woke up and demanded a smoke.
When the doctor said “no”, Sim flipped out and cursed him in Hokkien. He then yanked out his cannula and started bleeding everywhere.
Two doctors and two nurses tried to stop the bloodbath, but Sim was still freaking out and swinging his arms around. He then whipped out a Swiss Army knife from his shorts and threatened the doctors and nurses with it. Another nurse called the cops.
Sim then wandered around the hospital with the knife, looking for a way out. He even waved the knife at one of the nurses again.
He finally got out through one of the ambulance bay doors. The police showed up at the hospital and nabbed him at about noon that day.
The prosecutor said Sim had a rap sheet that included drug offenses. Meanwhile, his lawyer said Sim was an odd-job worker with a history of mental problems and drug-induced psychosis. He also said Sim was trying to get his act together and live a crime-free life, and that he had his family’s support.
The prosecutor said the victims in this case were healthcare workers who were just doing their duty and helping Sim. Sim’s conviction came after a new framework to protect healthcare workers from abuse was launched on Dec. 13.
