SINGAPORE: A man suffered severe burns after a woman poured boiling soup from a pot on him after an argument with a friend.
On January 2, Lim Si Hui, 33, was sentenced after pleading guilty to voluntarily causing grievous bodily harm to Martin Boy, 36.
Another charge of slapping the victim will also be considered at sentencing on January 25th.
The court heard that Mr Lim and Mr Boyi got into an argument at FML Bar on Prinsep Street on April 19, 2022.
Ms Lim’s mobile phone was damaged in the process and she slapped the victim in a fit of anger.
Shortly afterward, Boy left the bar to have dinner with a friend at a nearby restaurant while Lim waited for her husband at the bar.
After Ms Lim told her husband about the altercation with Mr Boy, she became furious and said she would confront the victim. Her husband tried to stop her, but she insisted on going.
At the restaurant where Mr Boy was eating, Mr Lim went to the table and overturned a pot of boiling soup on him as he sat down.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Santhra Aiyasamy said Mr Boy felt excruciating pain and slipped on the wet floor as he tried to get up from his chair to take off his shirt.
“While the victim was lying in a crouched position on the floor, his girlfriend and another friend helped him remove his shirt and pulled his pants and underwear down below his thighs,” the Democratic Party said.
“The victim lost consciousness for a short period of time and lay there in full view of other patrons of the restaurant until he regained consciousness.”
Boy sprayed water on his burns before being taken to Singapore General Hospital.
It was determined that he had suffered burns to 31 percent of his body surface area and required skin graft surgery.
He was given 15 days of hospital leave.
Democratic Progressive Party Santora said closed-circuit television footage showed Mr Lim angrily pointing a finger at Mr Boi and talking to him even after he overturned the pot.
The Democratic Progressive Party called for Lim to be sentenced to five and a half to six years in prison, stating that the defendant’s assault left the victim with serious injuries and permanent scars.
She added that Mr Lim’s actions were deliberate and targeted the lower torso, including the genital area, which is a vulnerable part of the body.
She cited a victim impact statement in which Mr Boy had been in severe pain for three to four months, adding that he had lost self-confidence as a result of his injuries and that his wife found him less attractive than before. He added that he was worried that he might end up with a child.
Defense lawyer Amorat Singh said Lim’s attack was not planned and asked for a sentence of two-and-a-half to three years in prison for his client.
In his written mitigation plea, Mr. Singh said: “She did not arm herself with a pot of hot soup before approaching the victim… She went to the restaurant with the intention of asking the victim why he had damaged her cell phone and made derogatory remarks. ” comments about her daughter.
“When my client saw the victim, he lost his cool and his emotions took over.”
Mr Singh added that the victim provoked Mr Lim by throwing his mobile phone on the floor and trying to bend it.
“Despite Ms. Lim’s repeated questions as to why he had damaged her phone, Mr. Boy continued to pretend not to know and smile. My client was understandably and understandably furious.”
Mr Singh said Mr Lim was a first-time offender and had written an apology to the victim.
If a person uses a weapon or instrument to voluntarily cause grievous bodily harm, the offender can be sentenced to life imprisonment or up to 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine or caning.
Since Lim is a woman, she cannot be whipped. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network