Woman jailed for slashing married ex-lover who refused to join her on work trip

Jamie Chen Xin Yi slashed Mr Randy Lee Teck Choon on the chest after alighting from his car at Block 759 Woodlands Avenue 6. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM GOOGLE MAPS

SINGAPORE (THE NEW PAPER) - With no friends or family present, the woman was left crying alone in the dock on Wednesday (Nov 13) as she was sentenced to jail.

Jamie Chen Xin Yi, 23, was found guilty of slashing a married man she had an affair with, leaving him with a 22cm cut that needed 29 stitches.

She was sentenced to four months' jail on one count of voluntarily causing hurt by using a dangerous weapon.

Chen had slashed Mr Randy Lee Teck Choon, 42, on Sept 17, 2017, using a penknife with a 7cm blade after he refused to go on a work trip to China with her.

The two had started an affair about two years before the attack.

They met while she was distributing fliers for his company.

Chen had allegedly harassed Mr Lee's wife during the period, badgering her to divorce him.

The couple, who have two children, have since filed for divorce.

Chen bought tickets for herself and Mr Lee to fly to China on Sept 18, 2017.

Mr Lee claimed he had ended the affair with her prior to the trip, but had kept in touch.

The day before the planned trip, they met for lunch, and he told Chen he was not going with her as he had no money to do so.

While he was driving her home, they argued about the trip and she slapped him multiple times in the car.

When they arrived at Block 759, Woodlands Avenue 6, they were still arguing in the vehicle.

Chen took out the penknife and scratched the windows.

She alighted from the car shouting, before slashing Mr Lee in the chest. The cut left a scar on his torso.

The court was told on Wednesday that a report found Chen suitable for probation. But Deputy Public Prosecutor Delicia Tan objected to probation and urged the court to jail her for six months.

She said there was poor prospect of rehabilitation as Chen did not have any familial support, having not spoken to any of her family members since April.

Her parents were also unwilling to be bonded for $5,000 to assure her good behaviour.

Crying in the dock, Chen told the court in mitigation that she did not try to force Mr Lee to go on the trip with her, but that he had bought the tickets with her voluntarily.

But DPP Tan told the court that Chen was not the naive young girl she looked like.

District Judge Jasvender Kaur agreed, saying it was a serious offence based on the length of the cut.

A stay of execution for the jail term was granted after Chen indicated she wanted to file an appeal. She was also offered bail of $20,000.

She has since filed an appeal against the conviction.

For voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon, she could have been jailed for up to seven years, or fined, or both.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.