Shillong, August 7: A 32-year-old man in Singapore has been sentenced to three months in prison for racially insulting and kicking an Indian-origin woman in 2021.
District Judge Shaiffudin Saruwan delivered the sentence on Monday, emphasizing the severe repercussions of racial and religious hostility within Singaporean society, as reported by The Straits Times.
As per IANS, Wong Xing Fong was convicted in June for targeting private tutor Hindocha Nita Vishnubhai, 57, with racial slurs and physical assault while she was en route to work near the Northvale condominium in Choa Chu Kang in May 2021.
Judge Saruwan stated that Wong’s actions were bold and remorseless, highlighting the necessity of a deterrent sentence in this case.
The prosecution had initially sought sentences of six to nine months’ imprisonment, contending that the incident should not be treated as a simple assault case.
In her testimony, Nita explained that she had briefly lowered her mask for comfort while brisk-walking when Wong and his fiancée shouted at her to “mask up.”
Despite clarifying her reason for lowering the mask, Wong verbally abused Nita and kicked her in the chest.
Nita responded with “God bless you” in an attempt to defuse the situation, but Wong’s aggression escalated.
Nita expressed the emotional toll of the incident, stating, “It affects me emotionally… I feel sad and scared. Is it wrong to be Indian? I didn’t choose to be Indian… I wish this didn’t happen… Till today, you take me to that road, I will cry. I was very scared,” during her testimony.
Wong defended himself by claiming that Nita had been sarcastic, aggressive, and had used vulgar language towards him.
He asserted that he pushed Nita because she spat at him and his fiancée, according to The Straits Times.