Woman sentenced to 2-year mandatory treatment order for assaulting mother, abusing police with vulgar language

Cheryl Sng Yu Qin also snatched and tore up a statement Staff Sergeant Gerald Ng Yong Sheng was taking from her mother about the events that took place in May 2017. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS

SINGAPORE - A 33-year-old woman, who assaulted her parents in their Toa Payoh North home and abused four police officers with vulgar language when they arrived at the flat, was sentenced to a two-year mandatory treatment order on Wednesday (May 16).

Cheryl Sng Yu Qin also snatched and tore up a statement Staff Sergeant Gerald Ng Yong Sheng was taking from her mother about the events that took place in May 2017.

On April 18, Sng pleaded guilty in a district court to three charges: assaulting her mother, using abusive words on Staff Sgt Ng and obstructing him from performing his duties.

Two separate assault charges involving both parents and three charges of verbally abusing the three other police officers were taken into consideration during sentencing.

Recounting the May 11 events in court, Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Zhongshan said Sng's 68-year-old father called the police at 6.40pm when his daughter was having a row with her mother.

When Staff Sgt Ng, who arrived at the flat with another police officer, approached Sng's 59-year-old mother to find out what happened, Sng suddenly struck the back of the older woman with her left hand.

Staff Sgt Ng asked Sng what she was doing and she replied: "I am hitting my mum."

Sng became agitated and abused him with obscenities even as he tried to calm her down.

DPP Tan said she refused to give her personal particulars. Staff Sgt Ng then asked her to go to her room to cool down and she complied.

But when Sng heard the officer obtaining her personal particulars from her mother, she marched out of her room, snatched the statement from him and tore it up, the court heard.

Last month, Sng's lawyer, Ms Muntaz Zainuddin, asked District Judge Ong Hian Sun to call for a report to assess her client's suitability for a mandatory treatment order. But Ms Muntaz did not disclose any details about Sng's mental condition.

Offenders given a mandatory treatment order will receive treatment for their mental condition instead of jail time. The order can be revoked if they fail to heed the conditions of their treatment.

For assault, Sng could have been jailed for up to two years and fined up to $5,000.

And for verbally abusing a police officer, she could have been jailed for up to a year and fined up to $5,000.

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