Angry at being called freeloader, man takes swords from Ang Mo Kio flat and challenges colleagues to fight

While having dinner and drinks with colleagues at a coffee shop in Ang Mo Kio, a man was jokingly called a "freeloader".

Johnson Ang Wai Ping grew angry and fetched two swords from his flat to challenge them to a fight on May 22, 2025, reported Shin Min Daily News.

Two days later, the Singaporean got into a brawl at another coffee shop in the neighbourhood, throwing chairs and punches at his victims.

Ang, 47, was sentenced to eight months and three weeks' jail on Aug 4 after pleading guilty to five charges, including possessing an offensive weapon, attempting to voluntarily cause hurt with a weapon, causing hurt by rash act and using insulting words to a public servant.

Ten other charges were taken into consideration during the sentencing.

According to Shin Min, Ang had downed 10 beers at a coffee shop at Block 530 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 on May 22, 2025, when his two colleagues made the joke.

His colleagues asked Ang to return to the coffee shop, but Ang said he was already home and suggested they meet him below his block.

At about 9.45 pm, he saw his two colleagues drive their respective vehicles towards the car park.

Holding two long swords, Ang walked to them and threw the swords on the ground. He told his colleagues to each take one, proclaiming that he would fight them bare-handed, reported Shin Min.

When his colleagues remained in their vehicles, Ang used the swords to hit the vehicles.

He chased after his colleagues when they drove away but stopped after a few metres, according to the Chinese paper. The commotion prompted several police calls from members of the public.

Ang was found to have kept five swords and one katana in his Ang Mo Kio flat, charge sheets seen by AsiaOne stated.

Coffee shop brawl

On the morning of May 24, 2025, Ang went on a rampage at a coffee shop at Block 407 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, flipping tables and flinging chairs at people.

A man walking past the coffee shop and a coffee shop assistant who tried to intervene were hit by a plastic chair, reported Shin Min.

The assistant and the father of the man hit by the chair were also punched in the face by Ang.

A third man who came to check on the dispute was scolded in Hokkien by Ang and also had a plastic chair thrown at him.

While detained at Woodlands Police Division, Ang peppered two officers with various insults in Malay and Hokkien.

Tried attacking neighbour's son

Ang got on the wrong side of the law again about six months later.

On Nov 1, 2025, at about 10am, he attempted to attack his neighbour's son with a metal pole, according to Shin Min.

Ang had reportedly done so as he could not fall asleep due to noise from his neighbours.

The neighbour told Shin Min he did not know the reason behind Ang's attempted attack and had supposedly been threatened with a fight when he tried asking.

Ang's jail sentence was backdated to Nov 20, 2025, and he has since been released.

The neighbour said both parties have not spoken to each other again, and his family will keep to themselves.

"I've also installed CCTV cameras at home, just in case," he added.

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lim.kewei@asiaone.com