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Man who punched elderly e-scooter rider, blinded victim in one eye, jailed

Lim Wee Ming, 46, was also ordered to pay compensation of $5,258.46 to 68-year-old Goh Sung Beng, who has since become blind in his left eye. (PHOTO: Getty Images)
Lim Wee Ming, 46, was also ordered to pay compensation of $5,258.46 to 68-year-old Goh Sung Beng, who has since become blind in his left eye. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

SINGAPORE — A pedestrian who punched an elderly e-scooter during a dispute, causing the latter to permanently lose vision in one eye, was jailed a year on Monday (30 March).

Lim Wee Ming, 46, was also ordered to pay compensation of $5,258.46 to 68-year-old Goh Sung Beng, who has since become blind in his left eye.

At the State Courts, Lim pleaded guilty to one count of voluntarily causing grievous hurt and one count of using threatening, abusive or insulting words.

At about 11am on 6 December 2017, Goh was riding his e-scooter near Block 289 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3. Lim was walking towards Goh at the time.

When the two passed each other, Lim accused Goh of bumping into him, but the latter denied doing so. A dispute then ensued, with the duo exchanging vulgarities.

Goh then raised his walking stick, which was hanging on his e-scooter, and swung it around but did not hit Lim. Lim then punched Goh’s face, causing him to bleed from the left eye. A witness came forward and held Lim back to prevent further assaults.

When he realised Goh was bleeding, Lim helped to wipe the blood off Goh’s face. Goh was then taken to hospital in an ambulance a while later.

Goh underwent surgery for serious injuries to his left eye, including a left eye globe rupture. He suffered permanent vision loss to his left eye, leaving him unable to follow his ordinary pursuits for 20 days.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Kang Jia Hui sought 12 months’ jail and $7,258.46 in compensation from Lim. If Lim were to be unable to pay the fine, the DPP sought seven weeks’ jail in lieu.

Lim’s lawyer Josiah Zee asked for no more than a year’s jail term and for $5,258.46 in compensation to be paid instead.

Zee said that his client earns $1,900 monthly as a packer and supported an elderly mother and his younger brother, who is unemployed.

He added that Zee has reacted to Goh swinging his walking stick at him and later stayed behind to help Goh with his injuries.

For causing grievous hurt, Lim could have been jailed up to 10 years, fined and caned.

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