Cleaner jailed for hitting colleague on the head and hand with a crowbar

Koh Choon Kiong, 52, was jailed for eight months for causing grievous hurt to Mr Nanju Chand, 55, at the locker room of Chye Thiam Maintenance in Defu Lane 8 on Sept 18 last year. PHOTO: ST GRAPHICS

SINGAPORE - A cleaner who wanted to teach his colleague a lesson over a work-related matter hit him on his head and hand with a metal crowbar, breaking his left finger, a court heard.

On Wednesday, Koh Choon Kiong, 52, was jailed for eight months for causing grievous hurt to Mr Nanju Chand, 55, at the locker room of Chye Thiam Maintenance in Defu Lane 8 on Sept 18 last year.

A district court heard that the victim, together with Koh and three other workers, were tasked to clean the highway at Jurong Island at about 11pm on Sept 17.

At about 12.30am the next day, while the victim was supervising the cleaning work, he told Koh to do his work properly and clean the area thoroughly.

Koh was unhappy and had an argument with the victim.

At about 5am, both men returned to their employer's office.

The victim rested in the locker room. He sat on a chair and placed his left hand on his head and was about to fall asleep.

Koh wanted to teach him a lesson. He wanted the victim to bleed from his head.

He found a 1.86m-long crowbar weighing 2.7kg and struck the victim on his left hand and head.

The victim felt a sharp pain and screamed. Other workers who were sleeping woke up and separated Koh from the victim.

The victim, who was bleeding from his head, was taken to Changi General Hospital for treatment. He suffered a broken finger and a cut on the head. He was given 15 days' hospital leave.

Koh could have been jailed for up to 10 years and fined for causing grievous hurt.

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