Man who assaulted 17-year-old over unpaid debt jailed, fined
Huang Weiquan, 22, was one of six men who attacked the youth.
A 17-year-old boy who got into an accident after borrowing money to rent a car was assaulted by six people when he was unable to pay back $8,400 in damages.
One of his assailants was 22-year-old Huang Weiquan (transliterated), who was sentenced to 18 months jail on Aug 9, as well as a $800 fine and one stroke of the cane, according to Shin Min Daily News.
In addition, he was disqualified from driving all vehicles for two years.
Huang had faced seven charges, including unlawful assembly, voluntarily causing hurt, and violating the Road Traffic Act.
He pleaded guilty to five of the charges, with the remaining charges taken into consideration for his sentencing.
Unable to pay back full amount
Investigations showed that the victim borrowed money from Huang's two accomplices to rent a car, and then collided with a motorcycle while driving, causing $8,400 in damages.
The victim's parents paid $1,000, but he was unable to pay the remaining balance and soon became uncontactable.
On November 25 last year, Huang's accomplices decided to force the victim to pay back the money, and asked four others - including Huang - to help them.
Assaulted in two places
The six men took the victim to the stairwell of a HDB flat, where they punched and kicked him. They then took him to the Lim Chu Kang Muslim Cemetery and continued to assault him.
The defendant punched the victim in the face at the stairwell and also punched him in the face and head at the cemetery. After being taken to the cemetery, the victim was instructed to call his mother and ask for $2,000.
The victim's mother claimed she had no money and had already reported the incident to the police. One of Huang's accomplices asked her to withdraw the report but refused, causing the group to assault the victim again.
The victim later went to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital for treatment.
He suffered contusions on his ears and right cheek, abrasions on his head and ears, and a puncture wound on the back of his neck. He was given three days of sick leave.