Man, 20, smashes ex-girlfriend's phone after breakup, allegedly gets punched by her male friend, 16, at Jurong West flat

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more information from Chua.

A 20-year-old man in Singapore took his ex-girlfriend's phone and damaged it on Nov. 3, 2024, after she allegedly ended their two-month relationship.

The next day, his ex-girlfriend contacted the man, and they agreed to meet that evening at his grandmother's flat in Jurong West, reported Shin Min Daily News.

However, when the man opened the door, his ex-girlfriend's father, older brother, and a male friend, 16, apparently barged into the flat and asked how he would compensate her for her phone.

When the man said he would pay the amount in instalments, his ex-girlfriend's family allegedly found his answer unsatisfactory.

Thereafter, his ex-girlfriend's male friend allegedly punched his face multiple times inside his flat and only stopped after his grandmother came out of her room.

The man's family subsequently brought him to a doctor, and he lodged a police report.

Unhappy breakup

Speaking to Shin Min, the man's father, surnamed Chua, said his son and the ex-girlfriend started dating after meeting each other on social media in September 2024.

However, just two months into their relationship, the ex-girlfriend told Chua's son that she wanted to break up, recounted Chua.

Upset about her decision, Chua's son visited the ex-girlfriend's home to demand an answer on Nov. 3 evening.

According to Chua, a conflict subsequently ensued between his son and the ex-girlfriend, so his son took her phone and left.

"My son was indeed very impulsive. Later on, the ex-girlfriend called him to negotiate, but he smashed her phone in the heat of the moment," added Chua.

Chua's son alerted police when ex-girlfriend visited with male friend

According to Chua, during the late hours of Nov. 3, the ex-girlfriend brought her younger sister and a male friend to his son's residence, reported Shin Min.

At the time, Chua's son was living with his grandmother in her public housing flat in Jurong West.

"When my son saw them through the peephole, he did not open the door and alerted the police," added Chua.

According to him, the other party only left after the friend allegedly tried to lure his son out by using the ex-girlfriend’s sister’s phone to talk to him on WhatsApp.

Chua also showed Shin Min the said conversation, in which the other party could be seen telling his son to "grow up" and "shut [his] tiny w*ener".

Ex-girlfriend's family & friend allegedly confronted Chua's son

The next day, the ex-girlfriend called Chua's son, allegedly informing him that she and her sister were willing to speak to him, Shin Min reported Chua as saying.

Both parties also agreed to meet at Chua's son's residence on Nov. 4 evening.

When Chua's son saw the ex-girlfriend and her sister through the peephole at around 7pm, he decided to open the door this time around.

"However, for safety reasons, he placed a knife inside his pocket," said Chua.

Just as Chua's son opened the door, the ex-girlfriend's father, brother, and male friend entered the flat, and her brother apparently demanded Chua's son to make restitution for her phone.

When Chua's son, who was a student, said he could pay the amount in instalments, the ex-girlfriend's brother was apparently unhappy with the answer.

Dispute escalated

Later on, the brother noticed the knife in Chua's son's pocket and asked him to place it on the floor, Shin Min reported Chua as saying.

However, immediately after Chua's son compiled, the ex-girlfriend's friend allegedly "dashed toward him" and "punched him in his left eye area several times" in the living room.

It was only when Chua's mother-in-law, 80, came out of her room and interfered that the ex-girlfriend's brother apparently told the friend to stop.

"Her father subsequently left with her friend, and my son alerted the police," shared Chua.

When police officers arrived, they called the ex-girlfriend's father and friend to return to the scene to record their statements.

"My son's left eye was swollen, and his vision was affected. We took him to a doctor, and it cost us S$169," lamented Chua.

Chua compensated for ex-girlfriend's phone

Chua told Shin Min that he was informed that the ex-girlfriend had alerted the police too, after his son damaged her phone.

He found it puzzling that the ex-girlfriend's family and friend still decided to "take matters into their own hands" even though they had lodged a police report.

Nevertheless, Chua said he had transferred the other party the amount they allegedly asked for the phone, which was S$1,399.

However, as of Jan. 3, 2025, two months after the alleged assault took place, Chua claimed that there had been no further updates regarding his son's case.

Alleged assailant assisting police investigations

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) confirmed they received a call for assistance at around 7:50pm on Nov. 4, 2024.

Chua's son sustained minor injuries but did not require conveyance to the hospital.

A male teenager is assisting with investigations for voluntarily causing hurt.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Top image via Canva & Google Maps