Man admits family violence at ex-wife in breach of personal protection order, blames 'traumatic' marriage

SINGAPORE — A 43-year-old man has admitted breaching a personal protection order by pushing his then-wife against a wall and dragging her into a bedroom, among other acts, during a domestic dispute.

Michael Chian Seng Wai, a freelance warehouse assistant, pleaded guilty on Friday (Dec 9) to two charges related to using force on Ms Edwina Woo Yu Ling.

The Singaporean also pleaded guilty to one charge related to breaching a personal protection restraining him from committing family violence against Ms Woo, and another charge of causing her distress by using threatening words against her.

Three other similar charges will be taken into consideration for Chian’s sentencing scheduled for Feb 2 next year.

Before deciding on the sentence, District Judge Chay Yuen Fatt called for a mandatory treatment order report.

A mandatory treatment order is a community sentencing option offered to offenders suffering from mental conditions that contributed to the offence.

Ms Woo is no longer married to Chian and they share custody of two young children.

WHAT HAPPENED

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Yeow Xuan told the court that Chian’s offences took place in the evening on June 14, 2020 when Ms Woo was aged 32 and still married to Chian.

A personal protection order that restrained Chian from using violence against Ms Woo in a domestic setting was issued on Oct 8, 2019 and was in effect at the time.

DPP Yeow said that the couple were in the living room of their home when they started arguing.

At some point during the argument, Chian grabbed Ms Woo’s right arm and tried to drag her into their master bedroom as she tried to resist him.

During the tussle, Ms Woo was suspected to have fractured one of her toes after she hit her left foot against the bedroom’s door frame.

Another dispute between them took place on Sept 27 that year at around 10pm while they were both in the master bedroom’s bathroom.

DPP Yeow said that Ms Woo was trying to leave the bathroom when Chian placed his hand on her neck and threatened to bang her head against the wall if she continued to move away.

He then taunted Ms Woo and challenged her to report the incident to the police, which left Ms Woo “highly distressed” by his behaviour, DPP Yeow added.

The third and final offence Chian committed took place on Dec 17 at around 9pm.

That evening, Ms Woo overheard him disciplining their son over a damaged book cover, and she sent him a mobile text message to say that there was no need to shout at their son.

In response, Chian went into the bathroom where Ms Woo was and they began quarrelling.

Similar to the previous incident, when Ms Woo tried to leave the bathroom, Chian placed his hand on her neck and pushed her against the bathroom wall.

She was allowed to leave the bathroom only after Chian had finished saying what he had wanted to say.

Ms Woo reported the three separate incidents to the police on Dec 23, stating that she lived in fear, because Chian’s violence “is only getting worse and I do not want to take any chances”.

HIGHLY TOXIC AND TRAUMATIC MARRIAGE

In seeking a lighter sentence for his client, Mr Ashwin Ganapathy of IRB Law LLP said that it is relevant to set out the background of Chian’s relationship with Ms Woo.

The lawyer, who sought a fine of between S$5,500 and S$6,000, said that his client had described the marriage with his ex-wife as one that was “highly toxic, manipulative and traumatic”.

The lawyer alleged that at times, the relationship was loving and blissful, but Ms Woo’s conduct would often change without warning into anger or resentment towards her husband.

“No matter how hard our client tried to please and satisfy her, Edwina would find every opportunity to take issue with him. Even in the presence of their children,” Mr Ashwin added.

Mr Ashwin also said that Ms Woo would insult and derogate Chian, saying that he had nothing to contribute to the family and that he was “less of a man" or that he was an "inadequate father and husband”.

“Edwina would also belittle and minimise our client’s achievements and successes at work, which seriously dampened our client’s great enthusiasm towards the same,” the lawyer alleged.

In 2019, Ms Woo had not only “casually notified” Chian that she had been unfaithful, but also actively seeking “sugar daddies and other relationships”, Mr Ashwin said.

Despite this revelation, Chian tried to “soldier on” in hopes that therapy could help rebuild the marriage.

However, Ms Woo filed for a personal protection order against him some time later.

“In the interests of their children and of keeping the family unit together, and further being unable to endure the emotional and financial toil of contesting the matter, our client decided to enter a personal protection order by consent,” the defence lawyer said.

Turning to the offences, Mr Ashwin said that in the first instance, Chian wanted to move their argument behind closed doors so as to not fight in front of their children.

However, Ms Woo refused to do so, which resulted in Chian pulling on her hand to move her into the bedroom for privacy.

Similarly, on the second and third occasions, Ms Woo decided to walk away before their grievances were resolved.

Chian acted on a spur of the moment to keep her where she was until she heard him out.

“Following the above incidents, the parties continued to struggle in their shadow of a happy marriage,” Mr Ashwin said, adding that his client has sought therapy to cope with the stress and trauma from his marital issues.

“Edwina continued to blow hot and cold towards our client, at one time displaying a desire to repair their love and seeking our client’s love and support in her life, and at the next, dismissing him.”

Anyone found guilty of using force on another can be jailed for up to three months or fined up to S$1,500, or both.

For contravening a personal protection order, an offender can fined up to S$2,000 or jailed for up to six months, or both.

If convicted of causing distress by using threatening words against another, a person can be fined up to S$5,000 or jailed for up to six months, or both.