A Malaysian man has been charged and sentenced for attempted murder after it was found that he crossed the border into Singapore to stab his daughter near a bus stop at Marsiling Lane.
The 56-year-old, Shoo Ah San, intended to kill his eldest daughter as he thought it was her idea to sell the family home in Malaysia. The widower is a father of three daughters and two sons.
The victim, 42, is his eldest child and a Singapore permanent resident living with her husband in Marsiling.
Family Dispute Over House In Malaysia
The court heard that Shoo had a distant relationship with his children. This was further strained because of a dispute over a house in Taman Perling, Johor Bahru.
He initially rented the house and was living with three of his children. The house was eventually purchased in 2000 under his eldest daughter's name. This was done because Shoo was an undischarged bankrupt.
His elder son, who is under 21, contributed to the purchase of the house. While he continued to service the monthly mortgage, Shoo claimed he paid for the house. He also claimed that the house was registered in his daughter's name only because he was not allowed to own a second property in Malaysia.
Shoo moved out of their home in 2007 to work in Melaka and only returned occasionally.
Then in 2016, his elder son changed the locks to keep him out. This was done as the father caused disruption including removing the ancestral tablet from the house.
But in early 2019, Shoo managed to break into the house. He wrote on the walls and mirrors with red paint to proclaim his eldest daughter was "unfilial." He also wrote that he intended to kill them.
In March of the same year, his children decided to refurbish and sell the house. This was done to avoid more trouble from their father.
Shoo was upset when he saw the refurbished house and thought it had already been sold. He accused his eldest daughter for being responsible for the sale and for turning him homeless without any living expenses to survive.
Man Planned To Murder His Daughter
As early as June 2019, Shoo was already harbouring thoughts of killing his daughter. After murdering her, he planned to kill himself by jumping off the block of flats in Singapore where she lived.
It was in January 2020 when he carried out his plan after his girlfriend asked him to move out of her house.
On January 17, 2020, at about 4am, Shoo rode his motorcycle across the Causeway to Singapore. He arrived at the victim's neighbourhood in Marsiling Lane. While he did not know her exact address, he knew she would head to work soon.
Around 5am, Shoo eventually saw his daughter walking towards a bus stop along Marisiling Lane and ran towards her. As per CNA, he lifted his helmet visor and said in Cantonese, "You all harm me very miserably."
Thinking she ignored him, he stabbed his eldest daughter 17 times on her shoulder, chest, shoulder blade and back with a 10cm-long serrated blade. He first aimed at his daughter's neck but she managed to block his attack.
Sensing someone was approaching, Shoo fled the scene and went back to his parked motorcycle. Meanwhile, his daughter shouted for help and ran across the road.
A passerby saw the blood on her and called an ambulance. While riding his motorcycle out of the car park, Shoo then saw his daughter seated on a grass verge with said passerby. This made him rush towards them and exclaimed in Cantonese once again, "You have not died? Then I will die."
With the same knife, Shoo attacked her a second time by stabbing her chest, arm and abdomen. He only stopped when he saw blood flowing from his daughter's mouth before riding off.
Attempted Murder Sentence Of 16 To 18 Years' Jail
After the incident, Shoo stayed in Singapore to try and track down his elder son. On January 22, 2020, the man was arrested at a coffee shop near his son's workplace five days after he attempted to kill his daughter.
On Tuesday (2 November), he pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder. A second charge of possessing an offensive weapon in public is also being considered in his sentencing.
The prosecution sought between 16 to 18 years' jail as it was pointed out how the offence was "premeditated and comprehensive." Deputy Public Prosecutor Zhou Yang also says the most important point is that Shoo attacked his daughter a second time after realising she was still alive.
Defence lawyer Victor David Lau from Drew and Napier sought 10 years' jail instead. He said Shoo was a "very lonely father figure" who was estranged from the rest of his family.
Shoo was also assessed at the Institute of Mental Health. He was found to have no mental illness or intellectual disability.
The victim had to undergo physiotherapy and medical treatment until June 2021. She now avoids carrying heavy items in fear of injuring herself further. She is also wary whenever she goes to the same bus stop.
Instead of sitting at the bus stop, she now stands since it would be easier for her to run away in case of danger. She has also started avoiding the path where her father attacked her and makes detours to go home.
Source: CNA
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