M’sian man, 35, repeatedly punched S’porean man, 52, at Limbang Shopping Centre in Choa Chu Kang, gets 12 weeks’ jail & ordered to pay S$873 compensation

A 35-year-old Malaysian man was sentenced to 12 weeks’ jail in Singapore for repeatedly punching a 52-year-old Singaporean man.

He was also ordered to pay S$872.65 in compensation.

Mok Siaw Yong pleaded guilty to one charge of voluntarily causing hurt and was sentenced on Aug. 20.

Fishmonger

In court documents seen by Mothership, Mok worked as a fishmonger at a wet market at Limbang Shopping Centre in Choa Chu Kang.

On Jan. 17, 2025, at about 1:17pm, Mok was packing fish at his stall at the wet market.

The 52-year-old victim, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), ambled over next to Mok at his stall and spoke to some of his co-workers.

Mok was irritated by the man and felt he was being a nuisance and an obstruction to him packing fish.

He asked the victim to leave, but he refused to comply and remained at the stall.

Mok proceeded to punch the victim's face without warning while the man was still talking to Mok’s co-workers.

The victim attempted to defend himself, but failed.

Mok punched the victim at least six times in the left eye and landed another punch on his head while dragging him backwards.

The victim did not retaliate.

He wrapped his arms around Mok to stop his assault.

Mok eventually stopped when some vendors intervened.

Surveillance footage captured the ordeal.

Wife

Later that afternoon, the victim's wife went to the wet market in search of her husband and found him covered with bruises on the left side of his face.

He could barely recall the details of the incident.

Later that night, his wife lodged a police report.

Fracture

The victim was medically examined on Jan. 18, 2025.

He was found to have sustained a fracture around his left eye.

He was given 14 days of hospitalisation leave from Jan. 18, 2025, to Jan. 31, 2025.

He also incurred at least S$372.65 in out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Mok was subsequently arrested on Jun. 24, 2026 and was charged on Jun. 29, 2026.

Vulnerable

The prosecution sought 12 to 14 weeks’ jail and a compensation order of S$372.65 as Mok did not make restitution.

They argued that Mok’s punches landed on the victim's eye, which “is an especially vulnerable part of the face, and an orbital fracture carries the attendant risk of vision impairment”.

The punches were "all dealt" to the victim's face, eye, and head, all of which are vulnerable parts of the body, the prosecution said.

They also stated that Mok’s actions were “wholly unprovoked” and the victim did not retaliate when he was assaulted.

For voluntarily causing hurt, Mok could have been jailed up to five years, fined up to S$10,000, or both.