Buangkok sword incident: Man charged with voluntarily causing hurt

Shots from a video showing a man in Buangkok holding what looks like a sword before he was detained by members of the public. (Video: CNA reader)

SINGAPORE: A man who was seen wielding a sword at Buangkok Crescent, swinging it at a pedestrian and hitting passing cars, was charged on Wednesday (Mar 16).

Singaporean Fadhil Yusop, 37, was given one charge of voluntarily causing hurt by means of a "samurai sword" at about 1.58pm on Monday at Buangkok Square mall.

He is accused of cutting Mr Kumarapeli Arachchige Amila Chinthan three times, causing the victim to suffer one cut on his left arm and two cuts on the left shoulder.

Fadhil appeared in court via video-link from remand, with his left arm in a cast.

He was wheeled in on a wheelchair but stood up when the charge was read to him by a court interpreter. He later limped in when his case was mentioned before the judge.

The judge ordered him to be remanded in Changi Prison Complex's medical centre for three weeks for psychiatric observation. He will return to court on Apr 6.

If convicted, he could be jailed for up to seven years, fined, caned or any combination of these punishments.

The incident on Monday afternoon went viral after a video of the incident was widely circulated on social media.

Police seized the sword as a case exhibit. (Photo: Singapore Police Force) Police seized the sword as a case exhibit. (Photo: CNA/Marcus Mark Ramos)

The police said on Monday that they received multiple calls at about 2pm that a man was swinging a sword in the middle of Buangkok Crescent and stopping oncoming traffic.

For the full report, check out CNA