Despite stricter rules and regulations in maintaining public order and the consumption of liquor in the city, there are still cases wherein the people involved are still caught under the influence of alcohol, especially those on the road and in public establishments.
Needless to say, whenever there’s alcohol involved, crimes of various levels happen one way or another.
Drunk Man Knifes Cook After being Turned Down of Request for Free Food
Recently, a jobless man attacked a cook with a knife, leaving a 4 cm-long wound on his head after he was denied of his repeated requests for a free meal of roti prata, as shared in a report by Channel News Asia.
On Friday (February 8), Murugan Joseph, 45, was sentenced to serve 10 ½ months in jail, on top of six strokes of the cane, and a SGD 3,000 fine following the attack.
The accused pleaded guilty to five charges, which include causing hurt with a weapon, possessing a weapon, using insulting words, mischief, and theft. There are other three charges being taken into consideration for sentencing.
The court reviewed Murugan and his two friends’ case – a 58-year old jobless man, Balachandran Kothandapani, and 36-year old odd job worker, Farizal Rahmat, who often went to a food stall known as Habib’s Express at a coffee shop in Clementi for free food rations.
At around 5:15 pm on July 29 of last year, Murugan and Balachandran went to the aforementioned food stall and ordered roti prata.
When it was about to be served, the waiter asked the two for they payment, but the two didn’t have any money on them.
Infuriated that the stall attendant wouldn’t give them any food because they didn’t have any cash to pay, the two confronted the stall attendant aggressively for more than ten minutes, as explained by Deputy Public Prosecutor Shenna Tjoa.
When they realized that they wouldn’t be getting what they ordered for, the two left but not without a ruckus, as Murugan tossed the plates meant for the roti prata.
About 15 minutes later, Murugan returned but this time, with his friend Farizal and asked the stall attendant again for the same food, but they were not given any.
Returning to the stall for the third time, Murugan was with his two friends, and still asked for free food. By this time, however, the 33-year old cook Revi Jose Vibin, stepped in to handle the situation.
The trio had turned on the cook, just before Balachandran left the scene and returned with a 19.5cm-long knife, which was bought by Murugan a few weeks ago.
Murugan got hold of the knife and slashed the cook on the left side of his head, leaving a V-shaped laceration which was about 4 cm long.
Vibin was brought to the hospital and was treated, while the three men were arrested by the police. A blood sample taken from Murugan revealed that he had been intoxicated at the time of the incident.
As of this time, the cases for Balachandran and Farizal are pending before court.