A court heard that a security officer followed Lim who was seen holding a pair of scissors and behaving suspiciously.
The officer saw him cut the electrical wiring connected to a fan and tried to detain him. Lim tried to escape and put up a struggle and was detained.
On checking, the officer found some bags of rice and liquid detergent had been cut open as well. The damage cost $188.
Pleading for leniency, Lim's lawyer, Mr P.T. Wong, said his client, who is married with no children, was shopping at NTUC when he mumbled aloud that everything was so expensive.
Two staff members heard it and scolded him.
Provoked, Lim then committed the offence, he said.
The lawyer said Lim had been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder 10 years ago, and five years back, suffered permanent rib disabilities following a motor vehicle accident while cycling.
Lim, who has a theft conviction, could have been jailed for up to one year or fined or jailed and fined for mischief.
