Couple in Toa Payoh hawker centre dispute charged

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Chow Chuin Yee and Tan Puay Leng walking out of the State Court.
Tay Puay Leng and Chow Chuin Yee were charged in court on Thursday (June 15). ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
A screenshot from a video of the incident posted to social media. SCREENGRAB: FACEBOOK/MANNY QUEST

SINGAPORE - A couple involved in a dispute over a table at a hawker centre in Toa Payoh were charged in court on Thursday (June 15).

Chow Chuin Yee, 45, is accused of using criminal force by using his body to forcefully barge against 76-year-old Ng Ai Hua, alias Ivor Ng. He is also alleged to have behaved in a disorderly manner by pushing some bowls and plates off the table onto the ground.

His wife, Tay Puay Leng, 38, was charged with using abusive words on Mr Ng with the intent to cause alarm.

A video that went viral showed a woman, who was dressed in white, shouting at an elderly man, before her male companion shoved the elderly man from behind.

The incident took place at a hawker centre in Toa Payoh Lorong 8 on April 21.

The video, posted on Facebook on April 23, was shared extensively, with netizens expressing disgust at the couple's behaviour.

Police arrested them on April 25.

Their lawyer S. Balamurugan asked for time to make representations. The couple will be back in court on July 12.

If convicted, Tay can be fined up to $5,000 and/or jailed for up to six months. The maximum penalty for using criminal force is three months' jail and a $1,500 fine, and for disorderly behaviour, $2,000 and six months' jail.

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