David Sun<\/strong> A man set his childhood friend on fire and fled Singapore for five years.<\/p>\n Donovan Doran Chung Yi Peng, who was caught in Thailand, was arrested when he returned and released on bail.<\/p>\n But while out on bail, he attacked his then girlfriend, believing she had been unfaithful.<\/p>\n Chung, 36, was sentenced to 12 months\u2019 jail<\/a> on Aug 14 after pleading guilty to three charges for causing hurt.<\/p>\n Another four charges for causing hurt, harassment and criminal intimidation were taken into consideration for sentencing.<\/p>\n The court also ordered Chung to pay his ex-girlfriend compensation of $785.35, or be jailed for an additional two days.<\/p>\n The court heard that Chung had a disagreement with his childhood friend, who was a carpenter working at a workshop in Eunos<\/a>.<\/p>\n Details of the disagreement were not mentioned in court documents.<\/p>\n At 1.40am on Aug 24, 2019, Chung and two others, including his friend Toh Wei Tiong, 44, went to the workshop.<\/p>\n Using lighters and cans of sealer spray found there, Chung and Toh set fire to the carpenter and the workshop.<\/p>\n The carpenter ran out of the workshop and fell to the ground. The third man with Chung and Toh then used a cloth to put out the fire on the victim\u2019s pants.<\/p>\n Chung scolded the victim about their earlier disagreement and left shortly after.<\/p>\n As the trio left the industrial estate, the carpenter got up and hobbled back to the workshop, which was still on fire.<\/p>\n Members of the public from another unit noticed the smoke, called the Singapore Civil Defence Force and helped put out the fire.<\/p>\n The carpenter was taken to hospital with burns on 11 per cent of his body surface area.<\/p>\n He required skin grafting and at least three operations, though he did not go through with one of them.<\/p>\n Hours after the attack, Chung and Toh fled Singapore through Woodlands Checkpoint<\/a>.<\/p>\n A police gazette was issued against Chung, who managed to evade getting caught for five years before finally being detained by Thai police and sent back here on Aug 28, 2024.<\/p>\n He was arrested on arrival and released on bail the next day.<\/p>\n Toh, who was arrested when he returned in May 2025, has been dealt with.<\/a><\/p>\n In August 2025, Chung entered into a relationship with a woman he was acquainted with in secondary school.<\/p>\n She would occasionally stay over at his home.<\/p>\n On Sept 24, 2025, the then 35-year-old woman was in Chung\u2019s room, having just returned from a trip to China.<\/p>\n Chung suspected she might have been unfaithful and asked to see her phone.<\/p>\n When she refused, he pulled her by the arm and punched her face multiple times.<\/p>\n As she lay on the floor in a cradled position, Chung used a pair of scissors to stab her thigh.<\/p>\n She screamed, alerting Chung\u2019s domestic helper, who then informed his mother. The latter called Chung to ask what was happening.<\/p>\n The girlfriend later left the home and sought medical attention, getting stitches for the stab wound. She was given three days of medical leave.<\/p>\n Despite the incident, the couple continued to see each other.<\/p>\n On the night of Oct 12, 2025, the couple were having dim sum when they began to argue.<\/p>\n Court documents do not specify what the argument was about.<\/p>\n They eventually went into Chung\u2019s car, where he punched his girlfriend in the face multiple times. He also took out a knife, alarming her.<\/p>\n They returned to Chung\u2019s home at about 12.30am on Oct 13, 2025.<\/p>\n They continued arguing in his room, where he again punched her face multiple times.<\/p>\n She cried for help and Chung\u2019s father came in, telling both of them to talk things out before leaving.<\/p>\n Chung then took out an 80cm metal rod, threatening to hit her, but put it down after she pleaded with him.<\/p>\n The woman later sought medical attention and was found with multiple injuries, including bruises, cuts and abrasions on her head, legs and fingers.<\/p>\n The relationship did not last. Chung\u2019s lawyer Devlin Mohyong from Invictus Law said they were in a relationship for about a month.<\/p>\n In mitigation, he said Chung is now engaged and in a stable relationship with another woman. The couple are expecting their first child in October.<\/p>\n Mohyong said the impending birth of the child has given Chung a renewed sense of responsibility, and he is now determined to remain on the straight and narrow.<\/p>\n For voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous means, Chung could have been jailed for up to seven years, fined and caned.<\/p>\n Have something to say? Join in!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Explore more on these topics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n See something interesting? Contribute<\/a> your story to us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Straits Times<\/strong>
Aug 14, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n
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