AGC appealing sentence of Brit, 22, who assaulted S'porean PHV driver, 66, calls it 'manifestly inadequate'

The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) is appealing the sentence of British national Oruche Morgan Fidelis, 22, who was found guilty of assaulting Low Ek Yong, 66, a private-hire vehicle driver in Singapore.

AGC described the sentence imposed on the accused as "manifestly inadequate".

Another appeal pertains to the decision of the District Judge to amend the charge to one of assault.

The charge before that was voluntarily causing hurt where grievous hurt is actually caused.

AGC said it has filed two notices of appeal to the High Court against the decisions of the State Courts.

Sentenced to short detention order

On Sep. 7, 2026, Morgan was sentenced to five days short detention order (SDO) and 100 hours of community service.

A SDO requires the offender to be detained in prison for a period not exceeding 14 days.

It acts as a deterrent by allowing the offender to experience prison life.

It is a type of community based sentence, which means that if he successfully complete the sentence, the offence of which he was convicted will be removed from his criminal record.

Judged explained decision of SDO

In deciding the sentence, the judge cited an "unfortunate coincidence of a few things", including Morgan's intoxicated state, which prevented him from providing a clear account of what had happened leading to Low’s injury.

The judge also took into account Morgan's clean record, his young age and the fact that he had pleaded guilty after the charge was amended.

However, if Morgan fails to comply with or complete the sentence, he may be brought back to court to be sentenced in accordance with the law.

He was subsequently released on bail.

The assault

On Jun. 12, 2024, Low had picked Morgan up at around 10:30pm.

Upon reaching the destination, Low attempted to wake Morgan, who was asleep, but Morgan reportedly became unhappy, whereupon he lunged at and pushed Low.

As a result, Low fell and hit his head on the ground.

Low was later found to have suffered a skull fracture.

He was taken to the National University Hospital for emergency treatment and subsequently died from natural causes about a year after the incident.

Original charge amended

Morgan had initially claimed trial to a charge under Section 323A of the Penal Code 1871 for voluntarily causing hurt where grievous hurt was caused.

Following the trial, the District Judge exercised his powers under Section 128 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 on Jul. 15, 2026, to amend the charge to one of assault under Section 352 of the Penal Code 1871.

As the driver had passed away from natural causes in June 2025, the judge had said the only objective evidence available was surveillance footage from a private residence opposite Morgan's residence.

The driver never came to again after going into a coma and could not provide an account of what happened that night.

Could not establish how fracture occurred

The footage showed Morgan waking up, calmly removing his headphones and moving towards Low in a single swift movement.

However, the judge noted that medical evidence only established that Low had sustained a skull fracture.

It could not establish whether the fracture was caused by the fall after being pushed, a punch, or Low tripping.

Could not prove beyond reasonable doubt

Given the uncertainty over how the injury was sustained, the court found that the circumstances were highly speculative.

The prosecution was therefore unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Morgan has voluntarily caused hurt, and the court could not convict the accused on the original charge of voluntarily causing hurt which causes grievous hurt.

The charge was consequently amended to one of assault under Section 352.

Under the amended charge, Morgan was found to have committed an aggressive act by raising his left arm towards Low.

Morgan pleaded guilty to the amended charge on Jul. 17, 2026.

AGC filed two Notices of Appeal

In a media statement on Sep. 9, 2026, AGC said it had filed two notices of appeal with the High Court against the State Courts’ decisions in the case.

It filed a first notice of appeal on Jul. 27, 2026, against the District Judge’s decision to amend the charge.

It subsequently filed a second notice of appeal on Sep. 8, 2026, against the sentence, on the ground that it was "manifestly inadequate".