CHARGE DROPPED: Madam Tan arriving at the court with her husband, Mr Wong, yesterday. She had been accused of causing hurt to a flight attendant. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

Yesterday, the criminal charge against Madam Tan Siew Hoon, the wife of the boss of contract manufacturer Venture Corporation, was dropped and she was let off with a warning.

Madam Tan, 61, had been accused of causing hurt to flight attendant Then Jiamin, 25, by slapping her in the business-class section on a Singapore Airlines flight to Tokyo on Sept 20 last year.

A police prosecutor told District Judge Ong Chin Rhu that the charge was being withdrawn and that Madam Tan had been given a stern warning by the police.

He did not give any reason for withdrawing the charge.

Madam Tan's lawyer Ravinderpal Singh also did not elaborate on why the Attorney-General's Chambers dropped the charge, saying only that it acceded to his further representations.

Earlier this month, Mr Ravinderpal had said his representations to the A-G's Chambers had been turned down.

Wearing a pink dress and a black cardigan, Madam Tan walked out of court hand in hand with her husband, Mr Wong Ngit Liong, a beaming smile on her face.

Anyone convicted of voluntarily causing hurt can be jailed up to a year and/or fined up to $1,000.

Madam Tan had been charged last month, a week after settling a civil suit with Miss Then.

The stewardess had sought unspecified damages for 'emotional and mental distress' as a result of the 'wrongful assault and battery', and for defamation.

Miss Then claimed she was serving Mr Wong when Madam Tan became upset and slapped her. She also alleged that Madam Tan asked her loudly: 'Why are you talking to my husband?'

Miss Then, who still works for SIA, has put the unpleasant episode behind her, said her lawyer, Mr Abraham Vergis. 'She is getting married soon and she is looking forward to the bliss of wedded life.'

SIA spokesman Stephen Forshaw said the airline respects the decision and will not comment on this case.

'However, in general terms, as much as the airline values its customers, we will support our cabin crew in any case where they are mistreated by customers in the course of their duty,' he said.

'We have policies in place to support and protect the safety of our crew, and these include seeking legal remedies against those who interfere with our crew in the performance of their duties.'

Mr Forshaw said mid-air abuse cases and incidents of passengers hindering cabin crew in performing their duties were rare and usually occur when customers had drunk too much alcohol.

In such cases, the cabin crew are trained to calm them down rather than confront them with force, which can be hazardous on an aircraft.

elena@sph.com.sg

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY KARAMJIT KAUR