He grabbed her by the neck twice
Man jailed 2 months for voluntarily causing hurt to woman
He grabbed her neck not once but twice, and for no apparent reason.
For his actions, Ng Teng Hng Kenneth, 26, was jailed for two months.
Yesterday, the graphic designer pleaded guilty to two counts of voluntarily causing hurt to a 23-year-old woman in March.
The court heard that at 12.25am on March 12, the woman was waiting for the lift on the first storey of a Housing Board block near Jalan Bukit Merah, where she lived.
When the lift arrived, she entered and Ng followed her in.
The woman pressed the button for the 18th storey and Ng pressed the button for the 21st storey.
When the doors opened at the 18th storey, she started walking out, but Ng pulled her back into the lift by grabbing her across the neck from behind with his right arm.
The young woman shouted and struggled to break free, but as the lift ascended to the 21st storey, Ng refused to release his grip.
When the doors opened, they got out. she managed to push him away, but dropped her phone.
Ng tried to escape, but could not find a staircase. So he ran back to the lift lobby where she was waiting to take the lift down.
He apologised before grabbing her neck again with his right arm.
He also pushed her head down as he did not want her to see his face.
But she struggled and managed to break free by pushing him away. Ng then took the lift to the third storey and escaped using the staircase.
The victim went home and her mother called the police.
She also sought medical attention for the injuries she suffered during the incident.
A National University Hospital medical report dated March 21 said that she suffered tenderness on her neck, abrasions on her forehead, bruises on her jaw and cuts on her tongue.
FEARFUL
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Amanda Chong said that following the attack, the victim said she has become fearful of taking buses and lifts.
Her parents would also have to wait for her when she returns home late from work.
She said that the two were strangers and it was not known why Ng decided to grab the woman.
DPP Chong said that aggravating factors include the fact that the incident happened late at night and in the confines of a lift.
She added: "He not only grabbed her in the lift, he did it again in the lift lobby."
Ng, who was not represented, pleaded for leniency and said that a jail term would cause stress to his mother.
He said: "I'm regretful of what I did and of the trauma and stress I have caused her and her family."
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