Worker from China jailed 1 year for stabbing compatriot after a spat about cleanliness

Yang Yuehui was jailed for one year after he pleaded guilty to his single charge of causing hurt with a deadly weapon. PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - A 39-year-old construction worker from China stabbed his compatriot thrice over an argument about the cleanliness of their dormitory room on a construction site, a district court heard.

On Friday (May 27), Yang Yuehui was jailed for one year after he pleaded guilty to his single charge of causing hurt with a deadly weapon.

The court heard that at about 7pm on March 1, Yang wore his slippers into the dormitory room which he shared with Mr Sun Yantao, 46, at a construction site opposite 11, Upper Serangoon View Road. Both men worked for Kingsford Construction.

Mr Sun told Yang not to do so, as it would dirty their room, sparking an argument.

After the quarrel ended, Mr Sun went to use his mobile phone on his bed.

Yang, meanwhile, went to Kang Kar Mall in Hougang Avenue 10 to buy a knife at the NTUC FairPrice outlet there.

At about 9pm, while Mr Sun was asleep in bed, Yang stabbed his colleague thrice - once in the abdomen and twice on his left upper thigh.

Mr Sun felt a sharp pain and woke up after the first stab but, before he could react, was stabbed twice more.

Yang then ran towards a canal near the construction site to throw the knife into the water.

Mr Sun got help from another colleague and a supervisor, who called the police.

He was taken to hospital and was operated on. He did not suffer severe injuries and was discharged from hospital three days later, and given 18 days of hospitalisation leave.

For voluntarily causing hurt with dangerous means, Yang could have been jailed for seven years, fined, caned, or sentenced to any combined punishment.

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