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SINGAPORE: A 30-year-old man who physically abused his mother for several years, hitting her private parts with a metal lock and starving her to death when stressed with his master’s studies, was sentenced to 56 weeks in jail on Tuesday (Mar 2. 3).
On Tuesday, the prosecutor told the court new details of Andy Koh Ju Hua’s abuse, stemming from new reports. In one incident, after hitting his 68-year-old mother’s face, Koh demanded that she stand by the sink with an ice pack on her face from 6.30 p.m. to 6.30 a.m.
He watched her from her room, threatening to hit her if she lowered her hands. He also hit her once on the head with a remote control, leaving a scar.
Over the years, Koh also took steps to evade detection: He did not allow his mother to open the door or be seen by neighbors, and ordered that he hide on a staircase or retreat if neighbors arrived.
She dictated that she only wear old and torn clothes, so it would be difficult for her to escape and seek help.
Koh’s mother said she believed her son was targeting her private region as injuries in that area could be hidden, Deputy Prosecutor Magdalene Huang said.
Ms. Huang shared those details as the basis for requesting 50 weeks in jail, an increase from the original requested sentence of 30 weeks in jail.
In response, Koh asked if he could be given 30 weeks in jail, as he had “plans to continue school and complete my candidacy.” He added that he was half a year away from completing his master’s degree.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) previously said that Koh was no longer in college. He took leave of absence in August 2019 and did not return to his studies after the license expired. As a result, his teacher’s candidacy was canceled in January, NUS said.
I HOPE TO MEET WITH MY MOTHER: KOH
Koh, who is in custody, said Tuesday that he is receiving psychological treatment and wishes to be reunited with his mother in the future.
“Regarding all the nonsense I did to him, I plead guilty. I also don’t understand why I did all this nonsense to him. I need to undergo psychotic treatment,” Koh said from pretrial detention.
“The IMH doctor has given me antipsychotic medications, so I need to heal. After being cured, I hope to meet my mother again. I want to live happily with her and I want to take care of her in the remaining days. “
Koh had pleaded guilty last week to four counts of willfully causing harm, one of which is under the recently improved provisions for victims in close relationships with defendants.
District Judge Kessler Soh explained that a mandatory treatment order was not an available sentencing option for one of Koh’s charges, as such orders are generally suitable only for crimes that carry a penalty not to exceed three years.
He agreed with the prosecutor that a substantial jail sentence was required, in view of the aggravating circumstances of the case.
The total term should reflect the degree of pain, suffering and harm Koh caused to her mother, Judge Soh said.
It also took into account an assessment by a psychiatrist at the Institute of Mental Health that Koh’s crimes were likely to be substantially influenced by psychotic symptoms at the time of the crimes.
“This is a case that has caused a lot of public concern,” the judge said.
“We can’t understand how (Koh) dared to attack his own mother in such a cruel way.”
He added that the way Koh attacked his mother was “abominable” and that he had to be punished according to the law. He also stressed that it was necessary for Koh to receive treatment to minimize the risk of recidivism after his release.
He said that a community court conference with a court counselor would be convened after the hearing to consider what steps could be taken to protect the victim, as well as what treatment Koh could receive to minimize his risk of committing a crime.
