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SINGAPORE: A woman who bit off her colleague’s fingertip in a fight was sentenced to eight months and two weeks’ jail on Monday (Dec 29).<\/p>\n
Li Yali, a 37-year-old Chinese national, pleaded guilty to one charge of voluntarily causing hurt. A second similar charge was considered in sentencing.<\/p>\n
She was a manufacturing worker at the time of the incident on Jul 12.<\/p>\n
The court heard that on the night of Jul 11, Li and her colleague were both trying to get a job in another company located at Jalan Boon Lay.<\/p>\n
While Li’s colleague was talking to a group of workers, Li suddenly approached and scolded the woman as she thought her colleague was badmouthing her.<\/p>\n
They exchanged insults and vulgarities. This escalated to a fight, during which Li pulled the other woman’s hair and scratched her face, causing it to bleed.<\/p>\n
Early the next morning, back at their employer’s premises at Tuas Drive 1, the colleague confronted Li about what had happened.<\/p>\n
Sometime during this confrontation, Li bit the other woman’s left middle finger, severing its tip and exposing flesh and bone.<\/p>\n
The women were separated by their manager and the victim was taken to a hospital’s emergency department.<\/p>\n
She was given antibiotics, pain medication and a tetanus vaccination.<\/p>\n
A medical exam found that while she had suffered a fingertip amputation, she could still flex the remaining joints of the finger and had not lost sensation in her left hand.<\/p>\n
The victim underwent surgery, including bone shortening and artificial nail placement, and received a total of 46 days of medical leave and 19 days of light duties.<\/p>\n
Deputy Public Prosecutor Quek Lu Yi sought three to four months’ jail for Li, arguing that her offence caused moderate harm.<\/p>\n
However, District Judge Vince Gui took the view that the harm caused by Li should be considered more serious as amputation was permanent.<\/p>\n
He agreed with the prosecution that biting was an aggravated form of assault as it carries the risk of transmitting diseases.<\/p>\n
Speaking before the judge pronounced his sentence, Li said she was not familiar with Singapore’s laws and would accept his decision.<\/p>\n
But after the sentence was delivered, she indicated that she wanted to appeal against it as she had only expected a fine.<\/p>\n
The punishment for voluntarily causing hurt is up to three years in jail, a fine of up to S$5,000 (US$3,900) or both penalties.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n