11 months’ jail for man who attacked married couple first with hammer, then knife in Chinatown

SINGAPORE – After arguing with a married couple at a hair salon in Chinatown, an elderly man targeted them twice on the same day, attacking them first with a hammer and then with a knife purchased at a nearby hardware store.

Mun Yew Wah @ Mun Yew Woh stabbed the woman, 54, on her left shoulder and slashed her husband, 66, on his chest and ear.

Mun, 78, was sentenced to 11 months’ jail on Sept 2 after pleading guilty to voluntarily causing hurt by a dangerous weapon.

On July 27, 2024, the victims were seated on a bench in a hair salon in Chinatown when Mun entered and sat between them.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Samuel Chew said the trio got into an argument, without providing details on who started it and what it was about.

Mun then left the salon and went to a nearby hardware store, where he bought a hammer.

In the meantime, the couple left the salon and went to a coffee shop close by, where Mun spotted them.

He then went up to them and struck the man’s arm with his newly purchased hammer.

The man punched Mun several times, prompting Mun to flee, but that was not the end of it.

Mun went back to the same hardware store, this time buying a knife, and went on the prowl.

Locating the couple at Chinatown Complex, Mun targeted them again, slashing the man’s chest and ear with his knife before stabbing the woman on her left shoulder.

Mun then fled the scene, but was arrested that same day.

The injured couple were treated at Singapore General Hospital, with the woman having surgery due to the 5cm-deep wound she suffered in the attack.

DPP Chew said the woman was hospitalised for five days and given hospitalisation leave for 60, while her husband was on hospitalisation leave for 14 days.

Urging the court to impose a jail term of between 11 and 12 months, DPP Chew said Mun had viciously attacked two victims in broad daylight.

The prosecutor said Mun had displayed a relatively high degree of premeditation, but also noted that he suffered a mental condition at the time of the offences.

“The accused’s Institute of Mental Health report states that his neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer’s disease with behavioural disturbance had a contributory link to his offences as his exercise of self-control was impaired due to his significant impairment in his cognition,” said DPP Chew.

In mitigation, defence lawyer Tham Kok Leong highlighted Mun’s mental condition and noted that he was also not well physically, having just had an operation on his knee.

Addressing Deputy Principal District Judge Kessler Soh, Mr Tham said: “Looking at his age, his physical and mental condition, I am urging Your Honour to be lenient with him.”

Those convicted of voluntarily causing hurt by a dangerous weapon can be jailed for up to seven years, fined, caned, or receive any combination of such punishments.