A 63-year old homeless man, Abdul Aziz Selamat, was sentenced to the maximum fine of $1,500 after pleading guilty to using criminal force by splashing a jug of hot milk at a doctor after she wrote that he was prone to tantrums.
The man had been referred to Thye Hwa Kwan Hospital for rehabilitation after surgery and he was attended to by the doctor who made written notes commenting on his tendency to create trouble for hospital staff by frequently throwing tantrums.
The man became angry when the doctor refused to delete the comments when he returned to the hospital after his discharge, and he took the jug of milk (which turned out to contain hot milk) from a pantry and threw it at the doctor, causing her to suffer redness on her face and chest.
Highlighting that the man volunteers at a charitable organization by packing and delivering food to fellow homeless persons fortnightly, the man’s criminal defence lawyer asked the Court not to impose a sentence of imprisonment on the basis of the man’s medical ailments, ill health and financial difficulties.
More information on the case may be found here.