S'porean woman, 77, bites officer at Yishun coffeeshop, gets jail

While drinking alcohol with her friends past midnight at a Yishun coffeeshop, a 77-year-old Singaporean woman was warned by police officers to stop as public drinking is not allowed at that time.

However, Koh Chu Sing refused to comply and tried to take another swig from a beer mug.

And when a police officer grabbed her mug, she bit his forearm.

Police investigated complaint about late-night drinking

Court documents indicated that the incident took place on Apr. 15 at the Chang Cheng Mee Wah coffeeshop at Block 848 Yishun Street 81.

Police had received a complaint at 11:50pm on Apr. 14 from a member of the public that a group of three had insisted on drinking at the coffeeshop at that time.

Public consumption of liquor is not allowed in Singapore from 10:30pm to 7am.

About 20 minutes later, the police officer arrived at the coffeeshop with a colleague to investigate.

Two other police officers were already at the scene.

They spotted Koh and her two friends drinking alcohol out of beer mugs at a table.

The officers approached the trio and asked them to stop drinking alcohol.

Tried to drink in front of police, bit officer on forearm

Koh's two friends put their beer mugs down but Koh did not comply, instead asking the officers why she had to stop drinking.

Koh then tried to drink out of her mug in front of them.

To stop her, the officer grabbed her mug, but she tugged it away from him and bit down on his right forearm.

This injured him and caused him to release his hold on her mug.

The officers then placed Koh under arrest.

At first, Koh resisted arrest by struggling and trying to walk away, but was taken into custody.

Later that day, the injured officer went to the Acute and Emergency (A&E) care centre of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

He was found to have suffered a "non-gaping wound" over his right forearm which was "swollen and tender".

He was also given one day of medical leave.

Sentenced to 10 weeks' jail

Koh pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing hurt to a police officer.

The prosecution asked for a sentence of at least 12 weeks' imprisonment for Koh.

The prosecutor noted that biting is a "dangerous means of causing hurt" as it carries "risks of transmission of bacteria and infectious diseases".

The judge eventually sentenced Koh to 10 weeks' jail on Dec. 17, 2024.

Top image from Canva/court documents.