Man fined $3k for causing hurt to singer

A former marketing manager who punched jazz singer Dawn Ho on the nose was fined $3,000 yesterday.

Australian Aaron Peter Jeremicjczyk, a 39-year-old Singapore permanent resident, had admitted causing hurt to Ms Ho at the Beach Station on Sentosa at about 9.20pm on March 9 last year.

The court heard that 35-year-old Ms Ho had seen Jeremicjczyk, who was with his girlfriend and a friend, arguing with a limousine driver about the fare and told him to stop shouting.

A friend who had come to pick up Ms Ho and her two friends had tried to calm him down, but as they were about to drive off, Jeremicjczyk approached the open passenger door window of their vehicle and punched Ms Ho on the nose, causing redness and swelling.

Jeremicjczyk's lawyer Shashi Nathan said in mitigation that Ms Ho had made provocative, insulting and racist comments about his client, which sparked off the incident, though the 39-year-old made no excuses for his actions.

The incident was reported on social media and the lawyer said this left Jeremicjczyk "with a tarnished image due to the comments made by the victim on various blog sites".

Mr Nathan said that after the victim went on Facebook and other social media, his client lost his job in the food-and-beverage industry within two days.

"It has always been my client's intention to meet the victim, apologise to her as well as to compensate her," he said.

"There was some discussion with the victim's lawyers, but nothing came of it. I restate his intention."

District Judge Liew Thiam Leng said there was a degree of provocation by the victim when she uttered certain comments in response to the accused's behaviour.

"Of course, this does not mean that the act of the accused in punching her in this case is condoned. Such acts would not be acceptable, especially in public."

Jeremicjczyk could have been jailed for up to two years and/or fined up to $5,000 for causing hurt.

elena@sph.com.sg

Get MyPaper for more stories.