Jailed and caned for brandishing replica pistol

Kenny Lim Sze Yu, 34, was sentenced to 14 months in jail and three strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to committing criminal intimidation by brandishing a replica pistol. -- PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE 
Kenny Lim Sze Yu, 34, was sentenced to 14 months in jail and three strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to committing criminal intimidation by brandishing a replica pistol. -- PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE 

While quarrelling with three men at a food stall in Orchard Plaza early this year, Kenny Lim Sze Yu pulled out a replica pistol from his sling bag. He wanted to scare off the trio, but his plan backfired.

One of the men pounced and pinned him to the ground while another stepped on the gun, breaking it into pieces.

Lim, 34, was also arrested, and on Wednesday, was sentenced to 14 months in jail and three strokes of the cane. He had pleaded guilty to committing criminal intimidation by brandishing the replica pistol.

A district court heard that Lim, who is unemployed, had gone alone to the food stall at 6am on Feb 24 after drinking beer with a friend in a nearby pub. Angry that the food stall assistant mistook his order, he threw the bowl onto the floor and overturned a table.

The table nearly hit three other patrons, sparking off the fight. A passer-by saw the commotion and called the police.

Pleading for leniency, defence counsel Peter Fernando said that his client took out the replica pistol because he was outnumbered.

In passing sentence, District Judge Toh Yung Cheong said that Lim "had created fear and terror in a public place" by pulling out the replica pistol.

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