Singapore — A man repeatedly kicked and punched the abdomen and face of his pregnant girlfriend over an argument about whether to abort or keep their baby.
Shawn Tan Jia Jun, 24, got into a heated argument with his then-girlfriend, now fiancée, on July 15, 2020, five days after discovering the pregnancy.
After a visit to a woman’s clinic, the doctor advised his girlfriend that she should decide before July 17 if they wanted an abortion to prevent risks of medical complications.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Tan Pei Wei noted that the altercation began while discussing what to do with the pregnancy.
It was not revealed who took which side of the argument, reported Today.
During the dispute, Tan pushed his girlfriend onto the bed and began punching and kicking her abdomen numerous times. He also hit her face.
Tan’s mother stepped in and stopped the argument.
The victim then called her friend, who later assisted her out of Tan’s home.
She went to National University Hospital for medical assistance. She noted pain on her face, chest, and abdomen, while bruises covered her upper and lower limbs.
The victim was diagnosed with a possible bone fracture on her face. She could not be X-rayed due to the risk of exposing the foetus to radiation.
DPP Tan Pei Wei added that an ultrasound test confirmed the foetus’ heart was beating. He sought at least two weeks imprisonment for Tan.
Meanwhile, Tan’s lawyer, Terence Yeo from TSMP Law Corporation, told the court that his client did not plan to harm his girlfriend.
He hit her when she tried leaving the bedroom, Mr Yeo added.
“It was an instinctive and impulsive reaction to what had happened then,” he noted.
After the incident, the court heard that the girlfriend had aborted the baby. The couple also reunited and are now engaged to be married later this year.
Tan’s fiancée asked the police to drop the charge against Tan, said Mr Yeo.
On Monday (Oct 25), Tan pleaded guilty to one count of voluntarily causing hurt to his girlfriend, then nine weeks pregnant.
District Judge Wong Li Tein said during sentencing that Tan’s assault was particularly serious.
However, Judge Wong added that his girlfriend has forgiven him, agreed to marry him and deemed he did not hurt her in a “vicious sense.”
“That, to me, should be the greatest victory to you, more than any light sentence you might receive,” said Judge Wong to Tan.
He was fined S$3,500. For his offence, Tan could have been imprisoned for up to three years, fined up to S$5,000, or both. /TISG