A hawker was charged on Saturday for allegedly using a chopper to hack a friend after the latter refused to pay back money he owed.

Low Hee Song, 45, who was charged with voluntarily causing hurt, was offered bail of $15,000. His wife bailed him out. Low, a drinks stall owner, allegedly slashed his friend Oh Teck Kui with a chopper at a hawker centre in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 on Thursday. The victim suffered cuts to his right forearm and left finger and was sent to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. Hawkers and eyewitnesses said the victim was in debt and had borrowed money from Low to repay his debtors.

Low's wife, who wanted to be known only as Mrs Low, was in court on Saturday with her two children - a teenage son and a daughter in her twenties - and two other relatives. Mrs Low said the family has been under a lot of stress and relatives had pitched in to raise the bail money for her husband. She added that her husband's drink stall has remained closed after the incident. Another relative said the family did not know about the alleged money dispute between the two men.

Low's case will be mentioned in court on Jan 30. If convicted, he can be jailed up to seven years and/or caned and fined.