Man stabs friend with ice pick over mobile phone misunderstanding

He whipped out an ice pick while confronting his friend. First, he stabbed him with the tool.

Then, he slashed him.

And all because he thought his friend had stolen his mobile phone.

On Tuesday, Chng Kai Jie pleaded guilty to hurting Mr Low Hang Poh with a dangerous weapon.

He was sentenced to 12 months' jail by District Judge Jasbendar Kaur.

Chng, 41, who is unemployed, could have been jailed a maximum of seven years, along with caning and a fine.

The victim, Mr Low, 39, was with his girlfriend at the void deck of Block 552, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 on the evening of June 3 when they were approached by Chng.

Chng confronted them and suddenly revealed an ice pick wrapped in masking tape. He stabbed Mr Low on his left shoulder with the tool, then slashed him repeatedly.

Eventually, Mr Low managed to block Chng's attacks and ran off.

A resident heard the commotion and called the police.

The ice pick, when used as a weapon, is likely to cause death, according to court documents prepared by deputy public prosecutor Allison Phua.

But while Mr Low escaped with his life, he sustained multiple injuries.

He had several slash wounds from the attacks, including cuts on his left shoulder, upper arm and forehead, a medical report said.

WARDED

He was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital and was hospitalised for three days. Police investigations revealed that Chng carried out the attack as he believed Mr Low had stolen his mobile phone.

Chng said in mitigation that he was remorseful and would not commit such an offence again.

He was previously convicted of drug related offences, unlawful possession of an offensive weapon, affray and theft.

As Chng had been in remand since June 5, he will serve out the remaining six months of his jail term.

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