Man, 46, suffers broken ribs from Yishun coffee shop brawl, his girlfriend, 42, gets eardrum ruptured

During a brawl that broke out between two tables of drinkers at a Yishun coffee shop on the night of May 22, a 46-year-old man sustained broken ribs while his 42-year-old girlfriend's left eardrum was ruptured.

The injured woman was subsequently arrested for affray.

Police told Mothership that they received a call for assistance at 293 Yishun Street 22 at about 10:40pm that day.

Assault was unprovoked: Man

Based on a police report seen by Mothership, the man, Freddy Tan, said that he and his girlfriend, along with other friends, were at the coffee shop for a drinking session since 6:30pm that day.

However, around 10:35pm, an altercation broke out between his group and another table of drinkers, during which one of the men allegedly grabbed Tan's neck and pushed him to the ground.

Two other patrons allegedly joined in to punch and kick him in the face and body, said Tan.

Tan claimed that he did not know their intentions for assaulting him, but added that the other patrons were regulars at the coffee shop and were drunk at the time.

Girlfriend arrested for affray

Tan told Shin Min Daily News that his girlfriend, who works as a beer promoter manager at the coffee shop, knew the four drinkers at the other table.

When the fight broke out, she tried to mediate and also threatened to call the police.

However, a patron allegedly shouted, "I hit women too," before punching her, said Tan.

He added that his girlfriend retaliated by slapping the man during the brawl.

The four patrons left before police arrived.

Tan said he was told by a police officer that they were arresting his girlfriend as she had been seen fighting on CCTV.

Tan himself was conveyed to hospital.

He then bailed his girlfriend out the next day and took her to see a doctor.

Injuries

Police told Mothership that a 46-year-old man was conveyed conscious to hospital and a 42-year-old woman was arrested for affray.

According to Shin Min, Tan showed a medical report which indicated he had broken ribs, while his girlfriend's left eardrum was ruptured.

This affected her hearing and she was still dizzy two weeks after the incident, said Tan.

Tan said his girlfriend has recently gone for a CT scan and is waiting the result.

Her medical expenses have ballooned to over S$3,000, he said.

A person in the other group has since contacted Tan's girlfriend offering to settle the matter privately and compensate her medical expenses.

"But she is afraid and dares not meet him," said Tan.

Tan sustained multiple bruises all over his body, and his chest purportedly hurt so much that he has to take painkillers regularly.

Man threw a beer glass: Other patrons

A beer lady at the coffee shop told Shin Min that Tan had a reputation of being verbally abusive after a few drinks, and would pick fights with other drinkers.

Other patrons told Shin Min that they heard the May 22 altercation started after Tan threw a beer glass.

But Tan refuted this, claiming that he did not provoke anyone that night and that it was an untruth spread by the other table of drinkers after the fight.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Top image from Shin Min Daily News