Back to prison for man who abused wife, daughter

Spending six months behind bars for breaching a personal protection order (PPO) last year did not stop a 45-year-old man from causing hurt again.

Palani Kandasamy hurt his nine-year-old daughter and 43-year-old wife at their HDB home last September and October, in breach of a PPO taken by them against him in August 2012.

Sentencing him to 14 months' jail yesterday, Community Court Judge Lim Keng Yeow told Palani not to go home drunk, but to take care of his family and seek help.

"I would like to think if you came home completely sober, you would not have done these things," the judge said.

In his mitigation, Palani said that he felt his wife was misusing the PPO to get him into trouble.

But he eventually admitted that his problems were due to his drinking.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Delicia Tan said that on Sept 30 last year, Palani scolded his daughter as he thought she had smoked cigarettes.

Despite her denial, he hit her on the arm and leg with a clothes hanger until it broke. He then took a belt from his cabinet and struck her. She screamed for help.

Her mother came and tried to stop Palani, who scolded her and threw a bottle of Coke at her. She shouted at the girl to call the police.

When Palani tried to leave, his wife stopped him by taking away his house key. He then grabbed her right arm and twisted it.

Less than two weeks later - on Oct 10 - he went home reeking of alcohol.

When he asked his wife if dinner was ready, she said that she was still cooking.

He hurled vulgarities at her and twisted her right hand. He also stepped on her leg.

Palani has about 10 previous convictions, dating from 1992, for burglary, theft, rash act and misappropriation of property, as well as repeated PPO breaches.

Ms Tan said Palani re-offended shortly after he was released from prison last year, and should be given a longer jail term than the six months he got previously.

Palani, who had a fourth charge - of being drunk and incapable - taken into consideration, could have been fined up to $5,000 and/or jailed for up to 12 months on each charge of breach of PPO.

elena@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 3, 2015.
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