SINGAPORE - A 40-year-old man who allegedly threw a cat to its death from the 13th floor of an HDB block in Yishun was remanded for another week at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) on Tuesday (Jan 12).

Lee Wai Leong, who faces a single count of animal cruelty, was brought to court from remand. He was charged two weeks ago and ordered to be remanded at IMH for psychiatric assessment.

Lee allegedly threw an adult male Mackerel Tabby domestic shorthair cat over the parapet of the 13th floor of Block 115B Yishun Ring Road at about 10.30am on Oct 30.

He is the first person to be hauled to court under the new Animals and Birds Act, which was amended in 2014 to toughen penalties against those convicted of animal cruelty.

Over the past four months, 20 cats - mostly strays - have been found dead or seriously injured in Yishun. Only two survived.

A day after he was charged, another cat was found dead in the area.

Lee's family, who live in the Nee Soon GRC constituency, had said that Lee has the mentality of a child and suffers from epileptic fits and seizures.

The family sought help at a Meet-the-People Session as they face financial challenges in engaging a lawyer, and pro bono lawyer Josephus Tan was asked by their MP, Mr K. Shanmugam, to help represent Lee.

Members of the public with any information on animal cruelty can contact the AVA on 1800- 476-1600.

The maximum penalty for causing unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal is 18 months' jail and a $15,000 fine for a first conviction. The maximum penalty for subsequent convictions is three years' jail and a $30,000 fine.