Passers-by walking past the skyline of Singapore’s Central Business District, Singapore.
Singapore is reviewing sentences for violent offenses following an outcry over a 12-day prison sentence for a student who strangled his girlfriend until she passed out.
The case of 23-year-old Yin Zi Qin is the latest in a series in the city-state involving college students where the punishment was viewed by some as light.
Widespread public criticism of last Friday’s conviction saw women’s rights group AWARE warn that it could have a detrimental impact on public perception of violence against women.
Justice Minister K Shanmugam said on Tuesday he had called for a review of the sentences for such cases, the relative sanction for different offenses and the extent to which training should be a relevant factor in determining whether worth it.
Yin’s attack happened after his girlfriend broke up with him via WhatsApp in May 2019, records show.
The next day, the dentistry student went to her house with roses to ask her to bring it back. After she refused, he grabbed her by the neck, pressed his thumb to her eye, causing it to bleed, and she passed out and passed out.
Yin was charged with willfully causing harm, an offense punishable by up to two years in jail. His short detention means he will not have a criminal record. He will have to perform community service and undergo rehabilitation.
Yin could not immediately be reached for comment. The prosecutor said he did not plan to appeal the case.
Earlier this year, the probation of a student who assaulted a woman on a train sparked a similar outcry, and he was jailed for two weeks after the prosecution was called.
The case of a student who protested what she perceived to be a light sentence for a male peer who filmed her in the shower sparked a debate over sexual harassment last year.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
