On December 23, 2025, a 57-year-old man was formally charged in court following a fatal confrontation that occurred over the weekend in Woodlands. The accused, Teo Eng Chye, faces one count of voluntarily causing grievous hurt in relation to a scuffle that resulted in the death of an elderly man. The incident took place at a popular eatery, the Fork & Spoon food court, located at Block 768 Woodlands Avenue 6.
The events leading to the charge began on the evening of December 21, 2025. According to the information presented, a dispute broke out between Teo Eng Chye and 73-year-old Mr. Foo Suan Chew. While the specific nature of the disagreement has not been fully detailed in the initial court documents, the situation reportedly escalated from a verbal argument into a physical scuffle within the premises of the food court.
The police were first alerted to the emergency at approximately 9:20pm on the night of the incident. Callers reported a need for assistance at the eatery. When law enforcement officers arrived at the scene at Block 768, they found Mr. Foo in an unconscious state. The elderly victim was immediately attended to by medical personnel and was subsequently conveyed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Mr. Foo later succumbed to his injuries and passed away while in the hospital.
The medical findings regarding the victim's injuries are particularly significant. Teo is accused of assaulting Mr. Foo in a manner that caused a fracture to a cartilage in the elderly man’s larynx. The larynx, commonly referred to as the voice box, is a critical part of the respiratory and vocal system. A fracture in this area is a severe injury that can lead to life-threatening complications. While court documents confirmed this specific injury, they did not disclose the exact physical actions Teo allegedly took during the scuffle that resulted in such a fracture.
Following the death of the victim, the police initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the scuffle. This led to the identification and apprehension of Teo Eng Chye. On December 23, 2025, during his first court appearance, the prosecution requested that Teo be remanded at the Woodlands Police Division to facilitate further investigations and the completion of necessary procedures. The court granted this request, and Teo is scheduled to have his case mentioned again in court on December 30, 2025.
The legal charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt is a serious offence under the penal code. For individuals found guilty of this crime, the law provides for an imprisonment term that can extend up to 10 years. In many cases, such a sentence would also be accompanied by a fine or caning. However, in this specific instance, a legal exemption applies to the accused. Under current sentencing laws, offenders who are over the age of 50 are not subject to judicial caning. Therefore, as Teo is 57 years old, he cannot be sentenced to caning even if he is convicted of the charge.
The incident has caused a sense of shock among the patrons of the Woodlands Avenue 6 food court. The tragic outcome of what began as a dispute highlights the dangers of physical altercations, especially involving elderly individuals who may be more vulnerable to serious injury. The investigation remains active as authorities seek to piece together the exact sequence of events that took place around 9:20pm on December 21.
As the legal proceedings continue, the court will likely examine eyewitness accounts and any available surveillance footage from the Fork & Spoon food court to determine the level of culpability. The focus of the upcoming mention on December 30 will be to assess the progress of the investigation and determine the next steps in the prosecution of Teo Eng Chye. For now, the accused remains in police custody while the family of Mr. Foo Suan Chew mourns the loss of the 73-year-old.
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