S’porean woman, 45, hurt woman, 78, at Tampines coffee shop, given 12 months’ mandatory treatment order

A 45-year-old Singaporean woman was sentenced to a 12-month mandatory treatment order for hurting a 78-year-old woman at a coffee shop in Tampines.

Ng Pei Lin faced three charges consisting of public nuisance, rash act and theft.

She pleaded guilty to one charge and was sentenced on Sep. 23.

The rest of the charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

Commotion

In court documents seen by Mothership, on the morning of Jul. 6, 2024, Ng was walking around Happy Hawker Coffee Shop located at Block 872C Tampines Street 86.

Ng then shouted, causing a commotion in the coffee shop.

She also slammed one of the tables and threw a lighter onto it.

Ng then confronted the victim, who was in the coffee shop, and asked her why she was badmouthing her.

The victim replied that she did not badmouth Ng.

This angered Ng.

The victim then walked towards Sheng Siong supermarket, and Ng followed her.

Pulled victim's shirt

At about 7:30am, Ng pulled the victim’s shirt from behind, causing the victim to fall onto the ground.

The victim could not get up and shouted for help.

A man who was having breakfast at the coffee shop rendered aid to the victim.

She then told him that Ng pushed her.

The victim also told the man that her leg was hurting and she could not stand up.

The man then took a chair for the victim and helped her sit down.

At about 8:01am, the man alerted the police to the incident.

The victim was conveyed to the hospital.

Ng was arrested on the same day and was admitted to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for psychiatric assessment from Jul. 6, 2024, to Aug. 13, 2024, and from Aug. 20, 2024, to Sep. 11, 2024.

Injuries

Upon examination, the victim was found to have tenderness over the left knee and thigh, as well as mildly displaced fractures of the left superior and and inferior pelvis.

Orthopaedics treated the injuries conservatively.

Upon further examination, the victim was also found to have central canal stenosis of the lumbar spine.

She underwent two surgeries as a result.

It is unclear whether the victim’s pelvic fractures were caused by Ng’s action.

A clarification medical report also stated that the victim had sustained injuries to her lower back as a result of the incident.

Investigations revealed pre-existing but previously undiagnosed spinal conditions that were aggravated or made symptomatic by the fall.

Schizophrenia

The prosecution called for a mandatory treatment order suitability report for Ng.

They said Ng had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and the IMH doctor had “opined that there was a contributory link between the accused’s mental condition and the offence”.

“In the present case, there is no evidence, at this stage, to suggest that rehabilitation would not be a real prospect, or that rehabilitation is eclipsed by other sentencing principles,” they said.