Teen given probation over fight in school

A secondary 4 student who fractured a schoolmate's nose over a queue-cutting incident was yesterday sentenced to 15 months' probation.

Jason Lim Jia Sheng, 17, was also ordered to perform 120 hours of community service, and pay the 14-year-old victim S$1,364.06 for the medical expenses incurred. He is to remain indoors between 10pm and 6am and his parents have signed a S$5,000 bond to ensure his good behaviour.

The court heard that the incident took place around 9.45am on Jan 29, in the canteen of the school in Jurong West.

The victim, a Secondary 2 student, had spent 15 minutes queueing for food when Jason's friend cut in front of him.

He asked Jason's friend, also in Secondary 4, to go to the back but the friend said, "You not happy ar", and punched him in the right cheek. The victim retaliated with a punch, and walked off after other students separated the pair.

This was when Jason, who was nearby, ran after him and struck him in the face with his palm, leaving the victim with a fractured and bloodied nose.

It is understood that Jason's friend, 15, was let off with a warning for affray.

Jason's lawyer told the court that her client had acted on impulse and was remorseful, adding that he has apologised.

When approached after yesterday's hearing, Jason's father said he would "keep an eye" on his son but the teen would have to "depend on himself".

Jason, who pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing hurt to his victim, could have been jailed for up to two years and fined up to S$5,000.

An unrelated count of affray, for fighting just outside his school in April last year, was considered.

This article was first published on July 25, 2014.
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