On June 18, 2025, Muhammad Fida’iy Mohamad Fauzi, a 26-year-old man, was sentenced to 18 months in jail and six strokes of the cane for a violent attack on his 58-year-old father-in-law. The assault, which occurred in June 2024, left the victim with permanent facial injuries. The sentence was delivered in a Singapore court following Fida’iy’s guilty plea to a single count of voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
In addition to his custodial sentence and corporal punishment, Fida’iy was also ordered to pay his father-in-law S$8,241.19 as compensation for the medical costs incurred due to the injuries sustained during the incident.
The incident began on the night of June 21, 2024, when Fida’iy arranged to meet his father-in-law at around 9:00pm at Loyang Point mall. He intended to confront the older man about a letter received by a neighbour, which allegedly contained personal information about him. Fida’iy suspected his father-in-law had written or sent the letter, although no concrete evidence or details about the letter’s contents were provided in court documents.
The confrontation initially took place at a McDonald’s outlet located within Loyang Point. During the discussion, the father-in-law denied being involved with the letter. Dissatisfied and increasingly agitated, Fida’iy became verbally aggressive. The older man, sensing the escalation, attempted to leave the premises. Fida’iy then followed him to Pasir Ris Street 21.
There, as the father-in-law was using his mobile phone, Fida’iy kicked him. When the man fell to the ground, Fida’iy proceeded to punch him repeatedly in the face. After the assault, Fida’iy returned to the mall to wash the blood off his hands and later went home.
The victim was left with severe and permanent injuries from the attack. Medical examinations confirmed fractures on his face, a deformed nose, a deep laceration on his upper lip, and long-term consequences including blurred vision and the loss of his sense of smell in one nostril. A titanium implant was surgically inserted into his face to manage the damage, which doctors described as life-changing.
During sentencing, the court heard mitigation arguments from Fida’iy’s lawyer, Mr Danny Erwin Nah Wei Jin. Mr Nah explained that his client had reached a “breaking point” after what was described as a complicated and difficult relationship with his father-in-law. Fida’iy had allegedly experienced abuse from the victim, although the nature and duration of the alleged abuse were not disclosed in court.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Lim, rebutted the mitigation, stating that even if the two shared a strained or hostile relationship, it did not justify the severity of the assault. The prosecution emphasized that the victim would now live with long-term, irreversible physical effects due to the injuries sustained.
The judge agreed with the prosecution’s position and handed down the sentence accordingly, stressing the seriousness of the violence and its lasting impact on the victim.
The assault highlights the dangerous consequences of unresolved personal grievances escalating into physical violence, particularly within family settings. The court’s decision reflects a firm stance against domestic aggression and underscores the legal system's commitment to protecting victims, regardless of any alleged prior misconduct on their part.
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