by Khushwant Singh

NG MENG Thong, 42, was jailed for a month on Friday for slashing his eldest brother on the arm and shoulder.

The court heard from his lawyer Gurdip Singh that the 63-year-old victim has since recovered and wants his sibling to be fined and not jailed. This would spare their 87-year-old mother the trauma of having her youngest son jailed, the lawyer added.

District Judge Ng Peng Hong said that while he appreciated it was a family row, a chopper had been used and a jail term was appropriate.

For more The Straits Times stories, click here.