The couple Chow Chuin Yee, 45 and Tay Puay Leng, 38 were slapped with a fine of S$2,700 on Friday (Aug 11) after admitting to their offences which took place at a Toa Payoh hawker centre in April.
Chow was fined S$1,500 for one count of causing public nuisance and another count of using criminal force on Mr Ng and Tay was slapped with a S$1,200 fine for one count of harassment.
The couple went to the hawker centre at Block 210 Toa Payoh Lorong 8 for dinner on the April 21, 2017 evening and a dispute arose when Tay refused to share the table with Mr Ng.
While arguing over the seat, Tay used vulgarities and insulting language at Mr Ng. She also called Chow, who was away buying his dinner, for help.
When Chow arrived, he barged into Mr Ng’s back forcefully, Mr Ng held onto the table in front of him to prevent from falling.
After Mr Ng left to sit at another table, a member of the public who had witnessed the saga approached Chow and told him he should not have pushed Mr Ng.
Chow reacted angrily, pushing some bowls and plates off the table onto the ground.
The couple’s behaviour, caught on video by a bystander, went viral after it was posted on social media platforms and have also triggered an uproar online.
Netizen started a online petition calling for civil action against the couple gathered over 8,000 signatures.
A neighbour of Chow also revealed that he has been always a bully.
For using criminal force on Mr Ng, Chow could have been jailed for up to three months, and/or fined up to S$1,500. He could also have been jailed up to five months, and/or fined up to S$5,000 for causing a ruckus.
For harassing Mr Ng with abusive language, Tay could have been jailed for up to six months, or fined up to S$5,000, or both.
