In a shocking turn of events, Cheng Guoyuan, 49, has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of his wife, Ms Han Hongli, outside a restaurant along Beach Road in a violent chopper attack in 2022.
The plea was entered on Tuesday, May 20, and Cheng will have two counts of criminal intimidation considered for his sentencing, which has been adjourned to Jun 3.
The incident, which was captured in videos widely shared, drew nationwide attention to the brutality inflicted on Ms Han, 44, as at least 10 bystanders attempted to fend off Cheng by throwing various objects at him.
Cheng, a kitchen assistant at a steamboat restaurant on Veerasamy Road, and his wife, a manager at Chong Qing Steamboat Bar along Beach Road, are both Chinese nationals. The couple met in 2004, registered their marriage in 2009 with the Chinese authorities, and had a son together in 2006.
The prosecution revealed that the couple’s relationship deteriorated over time, with Cheng feeling that Ms Han looked down on him for earning less. The relationship took a darker turn in April 2021 when Ms Han discovered that Cheng had done something wrong to her daughter. This discovery led to confrontations and coercive tactics by Cheng to suppress the revelation.
As financial difficulties mounted and the relationship worsened, Ms Han stopped remitting money to Cheng. This decision, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic preventing Ms Han from working, further strained their relationship. The prosecution highlighted that Cheng prioritised his reputation and his family’s honour over his life, leading to desperate attempts to hide the wrongdoing.
Cheng’s actions took a disturbing turn when, in April 2022, he hatched a plan to kill Ms Han, fueled by feelings of betrayal and disillusionment. On Apr 14, 2022, he carried out the violent attack, inflicting life-changing injuries on his wife. Ms Han’s injuries required extensive surgeries and have left her permanently disfigured.
In her impactful victim statement, she expressed the psychological toll of the attack, detailing her struggles and challenges in recovery. The incident has left her with permanent disabilities and immense emotional trauma, causing her to fear everyday objects and situations.
The case also revealed that Cheng, despite being stressed and troubled, did not display substantial depressive or anxious symptoms in the lead-up to the attack. Mental health assessments found that his actions were likely motivated by a sense of vengeance against Ms Han.
The prosecution has urged the court to impose a life sentence and eight to 12 strokes of the cane on Cheng.
