SINGAPORE — A 43-year-old man who assaulted his wife and verbally abused police officers was sentenced to 12 months and 62 days’ jail on Thursday (Jan 11).

Goh Tze Boon admitted to two counts of causing hurt to his wife, as well as one count each of criminal intimidation, mischief, and using criminal force against a police officer.

Twelve similar charges were taken into account for sentencing.

In the evening of Jan 12 last year, Goh got into an argument with his wife, Mdm Choo Swee Lian, 50.

She called the police after he slapped her twice on each cheek.

It turned out Goh had assaulted his wife while in remission for an earlier offence, which was not specified in court documents. Due to the breach of the remission order, his sentence was extended by 62 days.

He again abused his wife in August last year, when he was upset and berated her.

Angered by her silence, he grabbed and pulled her hair and tried to drag her into the kitchen.

That same month, he was also aggressive to his sister, Mdm Goh Lay Cheng. The court heard that he threatened to burn her house down and hurled vulgarities at her.

In June last year, Goh scolded a taxi driver who drove him to his house at Sin Ming. He left some belongings in the taxi and, when the cabby wanted to return them, he got angry and lashed out at him.

Goh later grabbed the right side-view mirror of the taxi and pulled it out of its socket, said Assistant Public Prosecutor Koh Huimin.

The following month, he spat at a police officer who arrested him for sniffing glue at his void deck.

Goh has a long list of brushes of the law, most of which involved violence, APP Koh told the court.

He also has issues with alcohol and inhalant abuse, and was diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder.

Goh told the court that he was taking steps to mend his ways and was seeking counselling.

District Judge May Mesenas said: “If you say that you are going to seek treatment, you have to make that choice.”

“You make choices daily… You can choose to abstain from (consuming alcohol and sniffing glue),” she added.

Goh’s sentence was backdated to Aug 29, 2017, when he was first remanded.