Jail for man who fractured elderly mother’s ribs in assault, robbed her of S$2,000

• Adrian Yap Yin Leung wanted to get his 77-year-old mother’s bank PIN
• When she refused, he hit her with her quad walking stick and kicked and stamped on her torso
• He later took her bank card and withdrew S$2,000 from her account
• He absconded after being arrested and released on personal bond

SINGAPORE — In a bid to withdraw money from his 77-year-old mother’s bank account for his own use, Adrian Yap Yin Leung beat her up with her walking stick, and kicked and stamped on her torso.

He also threatened to cut all of her fingers with a knife, only stopping when she gave in to his request for the personal identification number (PIN) of her automated teller machine (ATM) card. 

She was initially unable to call the police as she was in great pain — having suffered multiple rib fractures and bruises — but managed to crawl out of bed a few hours later to get help from her neighbours.

On Thursday (Jan 14), Yap, a 56-year-old Singaporean, was sentenced to five years and three months’ jail.

He pleaded guilty to one count each of voluntarily causing hurt to commit robbery and failing to report for investigations while out on personal bond.

The court heard that the incident took place on the evening of Oct 16, 2018. They were in her flat at the time.

When Yap’s mother, Madam Eunice Tsang, turned down his request for her POSB bank card PIN, he beat her up with her quad walking stick multiple times.

He then kicked and stamped on her torso, pulled her hair and threatened her. He stopped when she revealed her PIN.

Badly injured at this point, she lay down in her room to rest. Yap left the flat at about 3am and withdrew S$2,000 in cash from her bank account at an ATM at Mount Alvernia Hospital.

He had taken her bank card from her wallet without her consent.

HAD POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

At about 5am, Mdm Tsang got out of bed and noticed her son had already left. When she sought help from her neighbours, they called the police after noticing her facial injuries.

She was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where a physical examination revealed extensive bruising over her right arm, multiple bruises on her chest and swelling of her eye socket. Chest X-rays showed she had sustained several rib fractures.

She was warded in the hospital for 36 days for pain issues and post-traumatic stress disorder, and given about two months’ hospitalisation leave.

She did not need surgery and underwent rehabilitation during her hospital stay.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Lim Woon Yee said that after the incident, Mdm Tsang grew fearful of leaving the house alone, feeling afraid that she would be assaulted if she went out. She also had recurrent thoughts of the assault.

Yap was arrested on Oct 26, 2018 and released on personal bond the next day.

While he was required to report to Tanglin Police Division on Nov 9, 2018 as part of the bond conditions, he failed to do so. 

An arrest warrant was issued and he was arrested about nine months later on Aug 5, 2019.

‘PARTICULARLY EGREGIOUS’ ATTACK

DPP Lim and Yap’s lawyers — Mr Ng Shi Yang and Ms Ng Pei Qi from the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme — both sought the sentence imposed.

The prosecutor also said that Yap had a previous criminal conviction. He was sentenced to 18 months behind bars in 2003 for criminal breach of trust and forgery.

In seeking three months’ jail on top of the mandatory five years for his offence, DPP Lim cited aggravating factors such as the severity of Mdm Tsang’s injuries.

In mitigation, Mr Ng said that his client had opted not to claim trial which reflects “a certain degree of remorse”.

District Judge Ronald Gwee agreed with the prosecution that it was unnecessary to impose more jail time in lieu of caning. 

Offenders convicted of causing hurt to commit robbery will receive at least 12 strokes of the cane, but those aged 50 or above cannot be caned under the law here.

Nevertheless, the judge noted that Mdm Tsang’s injuries were very serious and the nature of Yap’s attack was “particularly egregious”.

His sentence was backdated to his date of remand — Oct 31, 2019.

Those convicted of voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery could be jailed for up to 20 years and given at least 12 strokes of the cane.

For breaking conditions of his personal bond, Yap could have been jailed for up to three years or fined, or both.