The man, identified as Ng Jian Ye Eugene, was fined S$3,000 after pleading guilty to causing grievous hurt by endangering the personal safety of his colleague while attempting to massage him. According to the report, “Ng twisted the victim’s neck while the latter was on a phone call in their office, causing him to suffer a cervical sprain or strain.”
During the court proceedings, Ng’s lawyers explained that he was a Muay Thai coach who regularly offered massages to his friends and colleagues. The defense highlighted that, “These massages are intended to and have helped his colleagues and friends with their pains, soreness and muscle aches.”
The victim, a 31-year-old, experienced discomfort in his neck and sought medical attention after the incident. He was eventually diagnosed with a sprained neck and was given medical leave. Further examinations revealed that the victim had sustained disc desiccation, resulting in a 15% permanent incapacity assessment by the Work Injury Compensation Board in September 2023.
In response to the defense’s claims, Deputy Public Prosecutor Melissa Heng stressed the importance of the medical report in determining the extent of the victim’s injuries. Ms. Heng emphasized that the workplace is not a suitable setting for massages and reminded that causing grievous hurt through negligence can result in imprisonment or fines.
