S’pore man, 37, gets 9 months’ jail after shoving man, 78, who later died from head injury

A 37-year-old man was sentenced to nine months’ jail on Aug. 27 after pleading guilty to assaulting a 78-year-old man who later died from a head injury.

Jimmy Yar Hock Long had shoved the elderly man, Goh Kim Inn, after seeing Goh hit Yar's father on the head with an umbrella.

Goh fell and hit his head on the ground, and died two days later at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

According to a report by The Straits Times (ST), Yar pleaded guilty to an assault charge and was sentenced to 9 months' jail.

History of altercations

Court documents seen by Mothership revealed that Goh and Yar's father, Yar Mui Cheoh, had been involved in several previous altercations.

Goh had assaulted Yar’s father in January and March 2024, and was subsequently given two police warnings on Aug. 20 that year.

Yar’s father was also issued a warning for fighting with Goh in a public place on Mar. 21, 2024.

Hit his head and became motionless

On May 25, 2025, Yar’s father was crossing the road with his family at a pedestrian crossing at the junction of Upper Serangoon Road and Wolskel Road.

Goh then approached the group from behind and struck Yar’s father on the head with an umbrella.

Upon seeing this, Yar rushed towards Goh, grabbed him, and pushed him onto the pavement.

Goh fell and hit his head on the ground.

He became motionless after the fall.

Yar’s sister then called for the ambulance and Goh was rushed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

He died of a head injury two days later.

Hurt caused was of the "most severe variety"

The prosecution sought a sentence of 10 to 12 months' imprisonment for Yar, arguing that the injury suffered by Goh was particularly severe.

"The hurt caused in this case is of the most severe variety," it said.

The defence, however, argued that Yar should receive no more than eight months’ jail, ST reported.

One of Yar’s lawyers said that Goh "was certainly not a helpless victim".

"Mr Yar then intervened spontaneously because of the surprise assault on his father and his concern for his elderly father’s safety," he was quoted as saying.

The lawyer also said that Yar’s father undergoes regular kidney dialysis and is recovering from stage-four cancer.

Yar’s bail has been set at S$20,000, and he is expected to begin serving his sentence on Sep. 28.