Couple attacked at 5-star hotel

Walking past the women's toilet at the five-star hotel, the couple claimed to have heard screams coming from inside.

They were surprised to find a man inside.

The woman's husband asked the man what he was doing there and told him to leave.

But the man allegedly attacked him, raining blows on his face until he became unconscious. He later needed 20 stitches on his face.

Singaporean Elaine Ong, in her 40s, and her husband, Mr Robert Pferdmenges, 64, a German national, have been staying in the Grand Hyatt Singapore along Scotts Road.

They said they have stayed in the hotel's Grand Club deluxe room for the last six years under a long-term arrangement costing them $400 a night.

They told The New Paper that they were on the 21st floor and about to walk past the women's toilet with its main door ajar when they heard a scream on Sunday night.

Mr Pferdmenges said a man and a woman, both dressed, were inside.

He said: "I asked the man, 'What are you doing inside a female toilet? Get out.' That's when the man punched me.

"Within five seconds, I was on the floor, passed out. When I came to, I was on a stretcher on the way to hospital."

Ms Ong claimed she was attacked by the woman.

CLAWED

Said Ms Ong: "She pushed me against a wall and clawed at my face. I had a concussion and blacked out for a while too.

When I came to, I saw my husband on the ground, in a puddle of blood."

Ms Ong described her attacker as having long hair, fair complexion and in a grey dress.

A spokesman for the hotel confirmed that an altercation occurred between several in-house guests.

She said: "Our team took immediate action with first-aid assistance and alerted the local ambulance when the incident was noticed."

The Singapore Civil Defence Force received a call at about 9.05pm, and sent Mr Pferdmenges to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).

The police were also called and investigations are ongoing.

Mr Pferdmenges was discharged from TTSH at 2.30am on Monday after receiving 20 stitches.

He said: "I don't understand how this can happen in a five-star hotel, especially to my wife, who is Singaporean.

"I hope the authorities will look into this issue."

The hotel spokesman said she could not comment on details of the incident, as this might interfere with the police investigations.

But she said: "We wish our valued guest...a fast recovery, and we will do our utmost to assist with any arrangements to support his recovery while in Singapore."

She added that the hotel has a responsive team of security officers and a number of associates trained in first aid.

"The health and safety of our hotel guests is our first and foremost concern.

"We continue to cooperate with the authorities and will assist all parties concerned with regard to this incident."

The couple said their 54 sq m room has a living area with workstation, bedroom, two flat-screen TVs and a Blu-ray player.

Mr Pferdmenges is the son of a prominent German banker and politician.

He is an active watch collector, and said he owns between 600 and 800 watches.

He used to own the Geneva watchmaking firm Badollet, which makes watches with customised designs. He has since retired.

The couple met in Monaco about 10 years ago and have been married for seven years. They have no children.

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