Jail for repeat offender who stabbed man in face with metal tongs, causing fracture

SINGAPORE – A repeat offender with a history of public drunkenness and weapon possession was barely four months out of prison when he assaulted a man in December 2024.

Junior Tan Yong Sheng, 27, had drunk alcohol and was upset over a personal matter when he used a pair of metal ice cube tongs to stab the 31-year-old stranger in the face, causing injuries, including a fracture, to his upper jaw bone.

He did this while under a remission order, during which he was supposed to stay out of trouble.

The Singaporean, who assaulted the victim on Dec 7, 2024, was sentenced to nine months’ jail on Sept 30 after he pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing grievous hurt.

Tan will also have to spend an additional seven days behind bars for breaching the order.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Lu Huiyi told the court that at the time of the offence, Tan was working as a bartender at a bar in Prinsep Street, near Rochor Canal Road.

He left his workplace at around 2am on Dec 7, 2024, and was in the vicinity when he saw the victim and his friends.

DPP Lu said: “The accused believed that the group was laughing at him. He returned to his workplace and retrieved a pair of ice cube tongs. The ice cube tongs... has sharp-edged gripping ends.

“The accused then walked back towards the (group) while keeping the tongs concealed under his shirt... He took out the ice tongs and stabbed the victim once in the face... before leaving.”

Court documents did not disclose what happened next but the victim later went to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he was found with the fracture and lacerations to his face that needed stitches.

Tan was arrested and was charged in court soon after.