SINGAPORE – In a dispute over their children at an indoor playground, a man punched another father’s face, causing a fracture, and also hurled insulting words at him.
Wong Chun Xiong, 39, who claimed trial to one charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt, argued that his actions were justified under the right of private defence.
But on Oct 9, he was sentenced to nine months’ jail and ordered to pay compensation of about $408. One other charge of using insulting words was considered for his sentencing.
Court documents said that on Sept 3, 2023, Wong was with his two young children and other family members at Bouncy Paradise, located within an enrichment hub at Pandan Gardens.
Wong’s son told him that he had been scolded by an adult at the playground. They then approached the 56-year-old man, who was sitting in a ball pit with his child.
When questioned by Wong, the man said Wong’s son had “hit onto his child”, stated District Judge Eugene Teo in his judgment, though it is unclear what the victim meant.
After Wong explained that it was an accident, a verbal dispute broke out. The other father jumped out of the ball pit and moved his head closer to Wong, who stepped backwards, said Judge Teo.
He added: “There was pushing, gesturing, and a punch was then thrown by (Wong) with his right fist at the left side of (the victim’s) face.”
The victim subsequently fell backwards, the judge said.
Other adults at the playground intervened, and the police soon arrived at the scene.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Clara Low said the victim suffered a litany of displaced and undisplaced facial fractures. He was given 14 days of medical leave and was also at risk of secondary complications such as permanent nerve numbness and scars.
Wong’s defence lawyers argued that the victim had acted aggressively towards their client. However, DPP Low said the victim did not make any threatening gestures at Wong or initiate bodily contact with him.
She also noted that before Wong threw the punch, he had held the victim’s arms, pushed him away and tried to trip him, while the victim never attempted to fight back.
The prosecutor said that objectively, the victim could not have seemed a threat to Wong as there is a nearly 20-year age gap between them, and Wong was physically larger and stronger.
Calling Wong’s assault “brutal and one-sided”, the prosecutor said he had inflicted more harm on the victim than reasonably necessary in the circumstances.
As the dispute occurred in a public area, Wong had ample time and opportunity to seek assistance from others, or he could have pushed the victim away or distanced himself by walking away, said DPP Low.
In his judgment, Judge Teo said the right of private defence is exercisable only in limited circumstances, and the actions taken must also meet a standard of reasonableness.
Judge Teo said based on his analysis, including reviewing closed-circuit television footage numerous times, he concluded that this was not a case which allowed Wong to exercise such a right in this manner.
Noting that the standard for private defence seeks to protect people from subjective acts of self-justified violence, Judge Teo said: “It may be difficult for Mr Wong to really appreciate this because he is in his prime now.
“But the day will come when his youth and vitality leave him, and he may find himself in another similar interaction with a much younger man,” said the judge, adding that the same legal standard would protect Wong if that younger man lashes out at him.
For voluntarily causing grievous hurt, Wong could have been jailed for up to 10 years, fined or caned.
This is the second court case in a week involving a parent being held accountable for an incident involving their child.
sentenced to three weeks’ jail for slapping a 6-year-old boy
as he was unhappy that the boy had caused his daughter to fall down at a playground at the Westgate shopping mall in Jurong.
