They clashed over his hygiene habits

An unemployed man was sentenced to two months' jail yesterday for slashing his flatmate's wrist after they argued.

The man, Tan Boon Chen, 48, and his flatmate, Mr Chong Wei Lam, 55, got into a disagreement over Tan's personal hygiene habits at their Sims Drive flat on Aug 29.

It soon escalated to a push-and-shove confrontation.

At about 6am, Tan took a 22cm-long knife out from under his mattress and lunged at Mr Chong.

Mr Chong raised his hands to block the knife attack, resulting in a 3cm-long wound, which exposed the muscle in his wrist.

The car washer was sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital in an ambulance.

Before sentencing Tan, District Judge Lee Poh Choo asked him where he was going to live after the sentencing.

Tan and Mr Chong were renting a flat together, while waiting for each other to get his own rental flat. The New Paper understands that a halfway home will be assisting Tan with his living arrangements.

Ms Lee also asked Deputy Public Prosecutor Nicholas Lai if Tan's history of schizophrenia had been considered in the sentencing recommendations.

MENTAL ILLNESS

Replying, Mr Lai said that although Tan has a history of suffering from the mental illness, he had not relapsed during the time of the attack.

Tan pleaded for leniency and asked the judge for a "minimum sentence". He repeated in court that Mr Chong had started the argument.

For voluntarily causing hurt, Tan could have been jailed up to two years, fined a maximum of $5,000, or both.