SINGAPORE: A 26-year-old man was sentenced to a week’s jail on Wednesday (Nov 20) for punching and kicking his ex-girlfriend at her own home out of jealousy.

Zachary Chung Wei Yik pleaded guilty to one charge of voluntary wounding and another charge of malicious mischief was taken into account in sentencing.

The hearing began with District Judge James Elisha Lee deciding not to issue a gag order on the victim’s identity.

The prosecution sought the gag order, saying it was to avoid revictimizing her through unwanted scrutiny and embarrassment.

Defense counsel James Ow Yong argued that this meant Chung’s identity would also be protected as the victim could be identified through her romantic association with him.

But Judge Lee allowed the victim to be named because the attack was not sexual in nature and was not protected by the Children and Young People Act.

The victim, a 40-year-old South Korean woman, worked at a nightclub located in the Orchard area. She met Chung in March 2022 and they began a relationship.

They broke up in May 2023 but still saw each other. A few days before the attack, they argued while Chung was seeing another woman.

In the early hours of September 12, 2023, Chung was drinking with friends at the club where the victim worked when he saw another patron buying flowers for her.

Buying flower garlands for hostesses and performers is a common practice in Singapore nightclubs.

Chung became jealous when he saw this and spent more than US$1,300 (S$970) buying flowers for the victim. He later saw her leaving the club with the other patron.

At around 5.30am, the victim returned home but could not find her house key, which she kept in a shoe outside.

Chung then exited the elevator holding the key. He started punching and kicking the ex-girlfriend, including in the face and head.

While attacking her, Chung demanded the identity of the patron who left the club with her. Then he dragged her into her house.

Inside he cut the woman’s clothes and a soft toy that belonged to her, which constituted the mischief charge.

After the attack, Chung stayed overnight. The following afternoon, the victim began to feel pain from the injuries.

Chung took her to the hospital for treatment and she was admitted for monitoring. The assault was reported by the doctor who treated her.

The woman suffered bruises, swelling and abrasions on various parts of her body. She was discharged a day later and given five days of sick leave.

Cosmetic fillers were also removed from the woman’s face during the assault. She was only able to work after she returned from South Korea on Oct. 17, 2023, after receiving treatment for it, the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor, who asked for a short prison sentence, described the attack as “brutal”, arguing that Chung targeted the victim’s head and face.

He said that while Chung reimbursed about $1,600 for the victim’s medical expenses, which totaled more than $2,400, he did so only after she told him she did not have enough money to pay them.

Defense counsel Mr Ow Yong said there was a background of mutual accusations of infidelity between Chung and the victim and that his client acted out of a loss of control over his emotions.

He said the victim’s injuries were minor and that Chung did not intend to cause injury in those specific areas. “It was more of a frenzy than a targeted attack,” the lawyer said.

He also claimed that the attack was not premeditated and that Chung did not set out to “lay in wait” for the victim. He had an arrangement to meet her at her place that night and was there for a “social purpose”, Mr Ow Yong said.

“He was for all intents and purposes a welcome guest to her,” said Mr Ow Yong, who asked for a $5,000 fine.

Judge Lee asked if the victim only let Chung stay because she was traumatized by the attack, but the lawyer said there was nothing to suggest that.

In handing down the sentence, the judge emphasized that Chung attacked the victim without any provocation from her and that it was a one-sided attack.

He also took guidance from his case Shawn Tan Jia Junwho was sentenced to two weeks in prison for punching and kicking his girlfriend when she was nine weeks pregnant.

The judge said Chung’s offenses were less egregious than Tan’s but that the prison threshold was still exceeded given the injuries suffered by his ex-girlfriend and the nature of the attack.

Chung is due to begin serving his sentence on December 13, 2024, after being granted a reprieve to address work-related issues.

The penalty for voluntarily causing hurt is a prison sentence of up to three years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.