AN ARGUMENT over a song at the Bamboo Lounge in Geylang ended with retiree Koh Ah Lee, 72, dead.

He died of a fractured skull after he was pushed onto the ground by security supervisor Teo Soon Seng, 46, on July 12.

Teo, who pleaded guilty on Wednesday, was jailed three months and 13 days.

But he will be freed later on Wednesday as he has been in remand since July 17.

According to court documents, Mr Koh, 72, had requested for a Mandarin song at about midnight.

When lounge singer Sha Sha performed the song on the stage, Teo joined her on the stage and held her with both his hands.

An angry Mr Koh confronted Teo and asked him why he was singing the song that he had not requested.

Teo apologised and shook Mr Koh's hand as a gesture of apology.

An exchange of words ensued which led to Teo pushing Mr Koh in the chest, causing him to fall and hit his head on the tiled floor.

Lounge staff came to Mr Koh's aid while Sha Sha and a friend took Teo home.

When Mr Koh failed to regain consciousness, staff called for medical help.

He died four days later. An autopsy showed the cause of death as serious head injuries, with bleeding of the brain.

In asking for a lenient sentence, Teo's lawwyer Subhas Anandan said Teo had promptly apologised and shook hands with Mr Koh but the matter did not end there.

Mr Anandan said that Teo did not punch or kick the older man but had only pushed him. It was unfortunate that the fall ended in tragedy, he said.