S’porean man, 66, sprays insecticide at a flame to burn roommate, 66, & steals girl's slippers, gets 6 months & 1 week’s jail

A 66-year-old Singaporean man was sentenced to six months and one week’s jail for spraying insecticide at a flame to burn his 66-year-old roommate, and in a separate case, stealing a pair of slippers belonging to an 11-year-old girl at a tuition centre.

Or Yong Soon faced seven charges, including voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation, mischief, acting and theft.

He pleaded guilty to three charges and was sentenced on Aug. 18.

The remaining charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

Dispute

In court documents seen by Mothership, Or and his roommate, identified as "Steven Tan", lived in a rental flat at Block 208A Woodleigh Link.

On Mar. 22, between 11am and 2:25pm, both men got into a dispute over living arrangements.

Or grabbed an aerosol spray can containing insecticide, sprayed it toward a lighter to create a flame, and directed it toward Tan.

Tan sustained burns to his right hand and forearm.

The injury was reportedly about 20cm long and 5cm wide, extending from the knuckles to the middle of the forearm.

Tan was later given five days of medical leave.

Or also used an aerosol spray can and an open flame from the lighter to burn Tan’s umbrella.

The burnt umbrella was later retrieved from the ground floor.

Or admitted to throwing the umbrella out of the flat’s window.

Theft

On Nov. 2, 2025, at about 2:07pm, police were alerted to a report that a pair of slippers valued at about S$50 had been stolen from a tuition centre at Woodleigh.

Officers from Woodleigh Neighbourhood Police Centre were dispatched to the incident location.

The tuition centre owner told officers that earlier that day, at about 11:35am, qn 11-year-old girl reported that her pair of “Adidas” brand black slippers was missing.

She had left her slippers outside the entrance area of the learning centre.

The owner checked surveillance footage and observed Or loitering near the tuition centre.

Or was seen exchanging his slippers with the girl’s slippers.

He then subsequently walked away from the tuition centre with the victim’s slippers.

Depression

The prosecution sought five to six months' jail for Or.

They argued that the injuries caused would have resulted in Tan suffering from “some disamenities caused by the second-degree burn”.

The prosecution also cited Or's prior offence in 2002 and another offence in 1981.

“The antecedents can be considered dated. The value of the item stolen is not particularly high,” they said.

The prosecution highlighted that Or suffers from mild major depressive disorder, which “increased his frustration and irritability as well as capacity to exercise self-control and restraint”.

“He was assessed to be able to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct,” they added.