SINGAPORE - A 54-year-old man was jailed for a month on Monday (Mar 21) for voluntarily causing hurt on provocation - an uncommonly-invoked charge.

Chelladurai A/L Nadarajan, a baker, had been involved in a work-related dispute with a colleague on Nov 29 last year. The incident happened around 3am, when both men were on duty at Sweetleaf Bakery and Deli in Bedok.

During the dispute, Mr Wang Git Han, the colleague, hurled vulgarities and gestured provocatively at Chelladurai for five minutes, before challenging him to a fight.

Chelladurai ignored him and continued working. The aggression continued - Mr Wang made a racial slur at him, targeting his mother, who had died recently.

At this point, Chelladurai snapped, and took a 70cm-rod - used to remove baked goods from the oven - to strike Mr Wang on the head.

Even after the man fell, Chelladurai continued to thrash him with the rod and kicked him.

Another colleague broke up the fight and called an ambulance.

A medical report stated that Mr Wang ended up with a fractured right kneecap, a 7cm forehead laceration, multiple abrasions and cardiac contusion - or bruising of the heart muscle. He was given 27 days of hospitalisation leave.

Under Section 334 of the Penal Code, Chelladurai could have been jailed for up to three months, fined a maximum of S$2,500, or both.

Noting the lack of sentencing precedence for offences under this section, Deputy Public Prosecutor Sivabalan Thanabal called for a sentence of one to three months’ jail, citing the use of a dangerous weapon and the prolonged attack - 24 blows in total.con

“The length of the attack and the number of hits is testament to the viciousness of the accused in meting out as much harm as he could inflict. It is fortuitous that the victim did not suffer any long-term injuries,” he said.

Defence lawyer Cheng Kim Kuan countered that his client had been provoked. “When the man did what he did, it was the result of the loss of self-control... so it’s meaningless to impose a deterrent sentence.”

“If he had been vicious, the victim would not have walked away with a mere fracture. There’s only one fracture. Other than that, (the injuries) are contusion, laceration, but not a broken skull,” said Mr Cheng.

While acknowledging the remorse shown by Chelladurai, who had compensated Mr Wang S$2,300, District Judge Kessler Soh pointed out that the 24 blows were “excessive in (his) view”.

“I note that you have shown remorse and paid the victim’s medical expenses... This must be very hard on you. If you do encounter such a situation in future, you must try to get away from it and seize control,” he said.