Public Prosecutor v Seng Inn Thye: Attempted Murder Sentencing for Stabbing Ex-Wife
In Public Prosecutor v Seng Inn Thye, the High Court of Singapore sentenced Seng Inn Thye to 5 years imprisonment and 4 strokes of the cane after he pleaded guilty to attempted murder of his ex-wife, Leong Mei Chan. The court considered the circumstances of the assault, including the accused's mental illness and the taunting by the victim, in determining the appropriate sentence.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
The accused was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and 4 strokes of the cane.
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Seng Inn Thye pleaded guilty to attempted murder after stabbing his ex-wife. The court considered his mental illness and the circumstances of the assault in sentencing him.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Prosecution | Government Agency | Sentence of 5 years imprisonment and 4 strokes of the cane imposed | Won | Benjamin Yim of Attorney-General’s Chambers Marjory Yeoh of Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Seng Inn Thye | Accused | Individual | Sentence of 5 years imprisonment and 4 strokes of the cane imposed | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Benjamin Yim | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Marjory Yeoh | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Ang Sin Teck | Ang Sin Teck & Co |
4. Facts
- The accused pleaded guilty to attempted murder.
- The accused stabbed his ex-wife 14 times.
- The accused's ex-wife taunted him before the stabbing.
- The accused was diagnosed with a recurrent depressive disorder.
- The accused surrendered himself to the police after the event.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v Seng Inn Thye, CC 12/2003, [2003] SGHC 88
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Accused went to the office of Euro-Asia Garment Manufacturers and stabbed Leong Mei Chan. | |
| Term of imprisonment took effect. | |
| Decision Date |
7. Legal Issues
- Appropriate sentence for attempted murder
- Outcome: The court sentenced the accused to 5 years imprisonment and 4 strokes of the cane, considering the severity of the assault, the accused's mental illness, and the circumstances of the case.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- No remedies sought
9. Cause of Actions
- Attempted Murder
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Law
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| No applicable statutes | |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Attempted murder
- Sentencing
- Mental illness
- Recurrent depressive disorder
- Mitigating factors
15.2 Keywords
- attempted murder
- sentencing
- criminal law
- Singapore
- mental illness
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Sentencing | 95 |
| Criminal Law | 90 |
| Attempted Murder | 90 |
| Criminal Procedure | 85 |
| Penal Code | 70 |
| Murder | 60 |
| Diminished Responsibility | 40 |
| Psychiatry | 30 |
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Sentencing Principles