Man jailed for hurting girlfriends, insulting modesty

SINGAPORE - A man who broke the ribs of two women he thought were cheating on him was rapped for his attitude towards the opposite sex.

District Judge Shawn Ho, in sentencing 37-year-old Mohamad Affindi Mohd Ali to 12 months in jail yesterday, said: "Your conduct is appalling, and your actions demonstrated a total lack of respect for women."

The divorcee, who has three children, admitted to two charges of causing grievous hurt and one of insulting modesty by taking an upskirt video recording of a female colleague.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Christine Liu said he bashed up his former girlfriend, aged 26, at his former flat at Toh Guan Road on Nov 3, 2011.

He slapped her repeatedly, punched and kicked her stomach and whipped her back with a belt.

Among her injuries was a broken rib. They had had an argument over his suspicion that she was having an affair with a colleague.

Between Sept 7 and 17 last year, he also assaulted his current girlfriend Esther Ong Mei Fong, 28, in Pasir Ris Park at Elias Road.

He grabbed her by the arms while accusing her of cheating on him. He then pushed her down before giving her a kick on the abdomen.

On separate occasions during that period, he again punched her in the abdomen and beat her up regularly, causing bruises on her body and two broken ribs.

Defence lawyer Louis Joseph said he has been undergoing treatment and regular counselling for depressive disorder.

He added that Ms Ong, who was in court yesterday, has forgiven Mohamad Affindi and they intend to get married after he is released from prison.

This article was published on April 24 in The Straits Times.

Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.