Man gets jail for throwing 1kg metal birdcage at girlfriend, threatening to ‘break her face’

SINGAPORE — A lovers' quarrel turned violent when Vicnesvaran Jagadisan lost his temper and threw a metal birdcage that weighed 1kg at his girlfriend. 

In a separate incident before this, he threatened to "break her face" in front of a police officer, after she reported him to the police for stealing from her.

The 42-year-old Singaporean pleaded guilty to one count of acting rashly without concern for the personal safety of others, and one count of criminal intimidation.

He was sentenced to a month in jail on Friday (May 26).

Another three charges of similar nature were taken into consideration during sentencing.

He and his girlfriend, 39, are now no longer a couple.

WHAT HAPPENED

State Prosecuting Officer (SPO) A Majeed Yosuff told the court that on the night of July 24, 2022, an argument ensued between Vicnesvaran and Lakshmi Karthiga Subramaniam over the upkeep of one of their pet dogs.

The argument grew heated and escalated into a scuffle, which resulted in Vicnesvaran assaulting Ms Lakshmi, who then retreated into a bedroom.

He followed her into the bedroom where he picked up a metal birdcage and threw it at her.

The cage hit Ms Lakshmi on her body but she was not injured.

Shortly after that, though, she went to call the police, telling them: "My boyfriend is drunk and beating me. I am injured."

It is not known if Vicnesvaran was arrested for the incident.

This was not the first time that Ms Lakshmi had alerted the police.

On March 19, 2021, she made a police report on suspicion that Vicnesvaran had stolen from her.

At that time, Sergeant Chia Shun Zheng was assigned to investigate her report.

On May 25, 2021, while Sergeant Chia was getting ready to record Vicnesvaran's statement, Vicnesvaran took out his mobile phone to call Ms Lakshmi. 

Angry that she had reported him to the police, he threatened her by saying, "I will go to your house and break your face". 

Upon hearing the threat, Sergeant Chia told him to hang up and Vicnesvaran complied, SPO Majeed told the court.

Ms Lakshmi later informed Sergeant Chia about the threat and Vicnesvaran was placed under arrest then.

Representing Vicnesvaran, defence lawyer Dhanaraj James Selvaraj from James Selvaraj LLC told the court that the former couple had a "tumultuous relationship" and since breaking up with Ms Lakshmi, Vicnesvaran has moved out of their jointly rented apartment so that he can "move on with his life".

Mr Selvaraj said that what his client did was wrong but he is "only human" and Vicnesvaran lost his temper at a moment when "he couldn't handle himself".

He urged the court to consider the rocky relationship that the two had, which ultimately led to the argument, and to "show mercy" by imposing a fine.

In delivering his sentence, Magistrate Lewis Tan noted and accepted the history of their relationship, but said that he "cannot discount" the violence displayed to the victim and the "blatant disregard" for the law.

The threat was not severe, but it was made in front of a police officer and "such threats cannot be taken lightly", he added.

Magistrate Tan also disagreed with the fine sought by the defence lawyer, because he does not see how that can send the "necessary deterrent message" that violence is not the proper response to any situation.

Anyone guilty of acting rashly or negligently to endanger human life could be fined up to S$2,500 or jailed up to six months, or both.

Those guilty of criminal intimidation to cause grievous hurt could be jailed up to 10 years or fined, or both.