Man threatens to kill wife with knife at Golden Mile Complex: 'One life for one life'

Tan Tam Mei
The New Paper
Wednesday, Apr 13, 2016

His wife refused to return home with him, so Leow Juay How, 36, threatened to kill her and their three children before advancing on her with a knife.

The part-time security guard was yesterday sentenced to 80 hours of community service and had a six-month day reporting order imposed during which he has to be home between 11pm and 6am.

Pleading guilty to two counts of intentionally causing harm, alarm or distress, Leow admitted to holding up a knife while walking towards his wife, Madam Kraisriwathana Chuliphon, 40, and saying: "One life for one life."

The incident happened at 1.54am on Oct 27 last year in a restaurant at Golden Mile Complex on Beach Road, where his wife works as a cook.

He also admitted to threatening to kill his wife and three children if she refused to return home with him at 6.17pm on Oct 28.

He had gone back to the restaurant to ask her why she had not returned home the night before after they had an argument.

Madam Chuliphon, a Thai national and Singapore permanent resident, had stayed overnight at an area in Golden Mile Complex set aside for staff of the restaurant to rest.

The court heard that Leow wanted her to return home with him, but they argued again after she said she wanted a separation.

He then threatened to kill her and their three children if she refused to follow him home.

He picked up a knife, pointed it at her and said: "Want to go home or not?"

Fearing for her safety, she refused to follow him.

Leow then threw the knife into the sink and tried to leave, but a security officer stopped him and called the police.

RECONCILED

In his mitigation, Leow's lawyer, Mr Louis Joseph, said the couple had since reconciled and Madam Chuliphon was present in court to offer him her support.

Mr Joseph added: "Things are not all rosy and fine, but they are working towards ensuring it doesn't repeat itself."

He also asked for his client to go on the Electronic Monitoring Scheme because he needed to keep his job.

Leow told the court: "I learn from this and promise not to do it again."

Then he turned to his wife and said: "I'm sorry for what I've done, I promise not to do it again."

The couple left the courtroom together.

Chia could have been fined up to $5,000 or imprisoned for a term not exceeding six months or both.


This article was first published on April 13, 2016. 
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