Interior designer sentenced to 5 months' jail for slashing ex-wife's BF

A man was sentenced to five months' jail after for slashing his wife’s boyfriend with a 30-cm long knife after confronting him at an open-air carpark near her home. 

The incident happened at the open-air carpark in front of Block 32, Jalan Bahagia, between 11pm and 11.23pm on Dec 2016, reports Shin Min Daily News

The 28-year-old interior designer, Mathew Chua Kun Leong was reportedly upset that the victim, 27-year-old James Loh Jiajun, had been romantically involved with his wife, 30-year-old Tan Choon Ting, with whom he is undergoing divorce proceedings with.

The two men got into an argument, with Ms Tan standing between the two, attempting to stop the dispute.

However, when Loh pushed Chua’s hand away during the altercation, a scuffle broke out.

Chua then swung a knife which he had hidden behind his back at Loh, slashing him on his right upper arm, chest and neck. 

Fortunately, Ms Tan’s sister, who was at home, witnessed the incident and woke their stepfather up.

The stepfather rushed to the scene and intervened, snatching the knife from the accused. 

Chua was sentenced on Monday (July 17) to five months’ jail for causing hurt to Loh, by slashing him repeatedly. 

Deputy Public Prosector Kong Kuek Foo cited that the incident had happened after Chua took some alcoholic drinks just before visiting his wife. 

Mr Loh and Ms Tan were returning home when Chua spotted his wife’s boyfriend sitting in a car about 20m in front of her home. 

He then told Ms Tan that he was visiting the washroom, and went to her kitchen to get the knife.

Loh suffered a 5cm-long cut on his right upper arm and two superficial cuts on his chest and neck. He was granted 17 days of hospitalisation leave.

Chua has custody of his three young children and was allowed to start his sentence on Aug 7.

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