Aaron Samuel Yukon, 22, received a nine-month prison sentence for slashing local actor Ryan Lian’s face with a karambit knife outside NEX shopping mall.
The attack happened on 22 November 2024 around 6pm in Serangoon. Yukon pleaded guilty on 7 November to voluntarily causing grievous hurt. A second charge for carrying an offensive weapon was taken into consideration during sentencing.
The Fight
Both men were smoking in a covered walkway when things went south over perceived staring. Words were exchanged. Then fists flew.
The pair ended up on the ground, grappling with each other. That’s when Yukon pulled out a karambit knife from his pocket. The blade was sheathed initially, but the cover came off during the scuffle. Yukon struck Lian’s face multiple times with the exposed knife.
Injuries and Aftermath
Yukon took off after the attack. Lian stayed put, blood pouring from his face. Two off-duty medical professionals who were nearby jumped in to help before paramedics arrived and took him to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Doctors found multiple fractures to his facial bones, plus various cuts and scrapes.
The Arrest
Police picked up Yukon the next day after he showed up at Changi General Hospital for his own injuries, according to Shin Min Daily News.
He had bruising on his forehead, scrapes on his right elbow and hand, cuts on his left forearm and hand, and abrasions on his right knee.
In Court
Yukon’s lawyer argued that Lian started it. The defence claimed the actor had grabbed Yukon and forced him to the ground first. They asked for a maximum sentence of seven-and-a-half months, noting Yukon was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia as a child.
Prosecutors wanted nine to eleven months. They pointed out Yukon had used a weapon to hit a vulnerable part of Lian’s body in a public place.
Yukon’s mother broke down in tears when the sentence was read. His father said carrying a knife was wrong and his son had to accept the consequences. But he also suggested Lian shared some blame, pointing to his son’s injuries.
The maximum penalty for voluntarily causing grievous hurt in Singapore is ten years in prison, with possible fines or caning.
