Chalet row: Man jailed for kicking, punching teen

A freight driver celebrating his 30th birthday at an East Coast chalet punched and kicked a 15-year- old boy in the head, breaking the youngster's nose after the boy tried to end a violent row.

Harvinder Singh Dhillon Balbir Singh, now 31, was jailed for a year on Wednesday after pleading guilty to one charge of causing grievous hurt and one of criminal trespass. He also admitted to two counts of causing hurt, which were taken into consideration in sentencing.

A district court heard that on Aug 30, 2014, Harvinder was at a chalet at Goldkist Beach Resort in East Coast Parkway, while the boy was at another chalet celebrating his cousin's 21st birthday with family and friends. The boy and his cousin cannot be named to protect the minor's identity.

At about 3am the next day, a guest at the boy's party got into a dispute with three of Harvinder's friends outside the boy's chalet.

The 27-year-old guest was punched by two of Harvinder's friends - Mahesh Vejayan, 30, and Muhammad Azmi Abdullah, 26 - and returned a punch.

The boy and his elder sister, now 23, went over to apologise to Harvinder and his friends, and to mediate. But while the boy was talking, Harvinder rushed at him with several unknown men. Harvinder punched the boy on the nose, causing him to fall. Some of the unknown men kicked him several times as he lay on the floor.

The boy and his sister returned to their chalet and shut the door, but did not lock it. The group of men followed them and barged in.

They found the boy sitting on the floor. Harvinder kicked him in the face. Some of the men also kicked the boy.

Harvinder also tried to hit the boy with a broomstick, but a 25-year-old female friend shielded him, so he hit her instead in the ribs.

The men left the chalet after an unknown older man appeared and persuaded them to leave.

The boy was taken to hospital with a broken nose and other injuries to his face.

For causing grievous hurt, Harvinder could have been jailed for up to 10 years and fined or caned.

Amir Hussain

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 01, 2016, with the headline Chalet row: Man jailed for kicking, punching teen. Subscribe