Chef jailed for attack on cleaner

A person with a propensity for violence.

That was how the judge described Justine Soh, a 22-year-old chef who became the second person to be dealt with following an attack on a cleaner at VivoCity in January.

Soh was yesterday jailed for two months for being part of an unlawful assembly to voluntarily cause hurt to Mr Abdul Hamid Ahmad, 49.

He was also fined $1,000 for another offence of voluntarily causing hurt to a friend.

The court heard that on Jan 31 this year, Soh and his friends, Nigel Koh, Ong Choon Hong, Joshua Low and Eugene Leong, had left a club at St James Power Station at about 6.10am.

As they were under the overhead bridge linking St James to VivoCity, they heard shouting coming from a group of seven men.

Mr Abdul Hamid was on the bridge, but was standing away from the group, court documents revealed.

When Soh and two friends went up the bridge later, they saw that one of their friends was among three men being attacked by the group.

BLOOD

Another group of unknown men ran past the friends and towards the assailants as they attempted to confront them.

The two groups then ran into VivoCity.

Soh checked on his friend and saw blood on his face. He and his friends gave chase.

Entering VivoCity, they saw Mr Abdul Hamid being assaulted by the group of unknown men.

Thinking that Mr Abdul Hamid was one of the men who had earlier attacked his friend, Soh and his four friends joined in the assault.

Soh kicked Mr Abdul Hamid's upper body two or three times and Leong kicked him on the backside about twice.

The assault left Mr Abdul Hamid with multiple facial lacerations, abrasions on his right shin, bleeding on the scalp and sides of his head, and a corneal abrasion on his right eye.

He was in Singapore General Hospital's intensive care unit for a day.

The court also heard that Soh had punched a friend during a birthday celebration at a chalet in Pasir Ris in November 2012, leaving his friend with facial injuries and 22 days' medical leave.

Yesterday, District Judge Lim Tse Haw said Soh had a propensity for getting involved in violence.

He noted that Mr Abdul Hamid's injuries were very serious and said it was fortuitous he recovered from his injuries..

Soh's co-accused, Leong, is expected to be sentenced on Nov 5.