Man charged with seven counts of animal abuse

Gerald Kok Zhin Oi was charged with seven counts of abusing a female toy poodle named Treasure. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/ AVA

SINGAPORE - A 22-year-old man was in court on Wednesday (May 31) after a pet dog allegedly died at his hands from multiple instances of abuse.

Gerald Kok Zhin Oi was charged with seven counts of ill-treating a female toy poodle named Treasure in a Toa Payoh flat between July and December last year.

Court papers did not reveal whom the dog belonged to.

Three of the charges stated that he allegedly used a sofa cushion to hit Treasure multiple times. Once, he hit her with it about 10 times in a span of 15 minutes.

He is also accused of using plastic clothes hanger to hit Treasure on Christmas Day last year.

Twice, on the same day, he is said to have flung the dog violently towards the corner of a bed. .

According to court documents, some time after 5 in the afternoon, Kok carried Treasure into another bedroom. The documents state: "(Kok) flung (it) violently towards the bed, hitting the said dog on the wall and causing (it) to die from the injury."

In a release on Wednesday, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said it was alerted about the case four days later.

It added: "AVA takes a stern view of animal cruelty and will not hesitate to take enforcement action against any person or organisation found to have committed acts of animal cruelty. We will press for deterrent sentences, if warranted.

"Members of the public can contact AVA at 1800-476-1600 to report cases of animal cruelty."

Kok, who is represented by lawyers Cory Wong and Josephus Tan, will be back in court on June 21.

For each count of animal abuse, first time offenders can be jailed up to 18 months and fined up to $15,000.

Repeat offenders can be jailed up to three years and fined up to $30,000 for each charge.

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