Ang Say Chee, a 60-year-old Singaporean man, believed that a papaya tree at Block 56 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh was possessed by evil spirits.

In August 2019, he used a chopper to chop down the upper half of the papaya tree, according to charge sheets seen by Mothership.

The papaya tree was a property under the care of the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council.

After chopping the tree, Ang threatened an elderly woman with the chopper.

Sentenced to three weeks' jail

For his offences, Ang was sentenced to three weeks' jail on Friday (May 7), as reported by CNA.

He had pleaded guilty to one charge of criminal intimidation by raising his chopper at the woman.

Two other charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

His offences

Charge sheets showed that on Aug. 29, 2017, Ang burnt a red cloth hanging on the gate of a flat along Block 56 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, endangering the personal safety of others.

Two years later on Aug. 6, 2019, Ang went to the void deck of the same block to chop a papaya tree after believing that the tree was possessed by evil spirits.

According to Today, a 70-year-old woman was nearby and had heard the tree falling. She was about to feed a community cat in the area.

Ang spotted her and tried to snatch the container of biscuits she was holding.

He then raised his chopper above his head and pointed it at the woman's head.

He told the woman he was unhappy that she was feeding the neighbourhood cats, CNA reported.

The woman subsequently retreated, as reported by Today, and hid behind a pillar when Ang walked towards the lift.

She called the police for help. Meanwhile, Ang sat on a stone bench and started talking to himself.

He later threw the chopper away.

The police arrested Ang when they arrived, and the weapon was not recovered.

Past convictions

According to CNA, Ang has had a number of past convictions since 1979.

His crimes ranged from housebreaking, taking an intoxicant into a public hospital, mischief, affray, rape and rash acts endangering life or safety.

Top photo via Getty Images for illustrations purposes only.