Couple in Toa Payoh food centre ruckus fined for using abusive words, criminal force on elderly man

A tearful Tay Puay Leng and her partner Chow Chuin Yee speaking to reporters outside the State Courts after paying their fines. ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
A tearful Tay Puay Leng and her partner Chow Chuin Yee speaking to reporters outside the State Courts after paying their fines. ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
Tutor Tay Puay Leng and her Malaysian partner Chow Chuin Yee on their way to court. ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
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SINGAPORE - The couple who berated an elderly man over a table at a Toa Payoh hawker centre were fined on Friday (Aug 11).

Tutor Tay Puay Leng, also known as Zheng Peiling, 38, was fined $1,200 for using abusive words on Mr Ng Ai Hua, alias Ivor Ng, 76, with the intent to cause alarm.

Tay's partner, tuition centre director Chow Chuin Yee, 45, was fined $1,500 for using criminal force on Mr Ng by using his body to forcefully barge into him in the back.

A video that went viral showed Tay shouting at Mr Ng at the Lorong 8 Toa Payoh hawker centre on April 21.

Shortly afterwards, Chow was seen shoving Mr Ng from behind.

The video, which was posted on Facebook on April 23, was shared extensively.

Police arrested the couple two days later and the couple were charged on June 15.

Speaking to reporters outside the State Courts after paying their fines, both Chow and Tay said that they would like to apologise to Mr Ng.

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Tay said she just "snapped" on the day of the incident as she has been going through a difficult time being a sole caregiver to her 89-year-old grandmother who is bedridden.

Chow told reporters that the past four months have been very difficult and hopes everybody will give them a chance.

He said: "I've not been able to do my daily routine, I've been pointed fingers everywhere I go. I've been trying to keep a very low profile. I'm just lost that day after receiving a distress call from (Tay). We've been through a lot of family issues and I'm very protective over her. There's no excuse for my behaviour. After watching the video, I feel disgusted with myself."

The couple are represented by lawyer S. Balamurugan.

For causing alarm, Tay could have been jailed for up to six months and fined up to $5,000.

For using criminal force, Chow could have been jailed up to three months and fined up to $1,500.

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