A Chinese national working at a factory in Singapore has been sentenced to jail after violently assaulting a colleague, including biting off part of her fingertip during a dispute.
According to CNA, Li Yali pleaded guilty to one count of voluntarily causing hurt, with another charge taken into consideration during sentencing at a district court on Dec 29.
The incident began on the night of July 11, when Li and her colleague were seeking employment at another company. While the colleague was speaking to a group of workers, Li approached her and began scolding her, believing she was being spoken about negatively.
The confrontation escalated into a heated exchange of insults, during which Li pulled the woman’s hair and scratched her face, causing bleeding.
The following morning, the colleague confronted Li about the earlier altercation, leading to another fight. During the scuffle, Li bit off the tip of the colleague’s middle finger, exposing flesh and bone.
The two were separated by their manager, and the injured woman was taken to a hospital’s emergency department. She received antibiotics, painkillers and a tetanus injection. Medical examinations confirmed a fingertip amputation, though she retained movement and sensation in her hand.
The victim later underwent surgery, including bone shortening and the placement of an artificial nail. She was given 46 days of medical leave and assigned light duties for 19 days.
During sentencing, Deputy Public Prosecutor Quek Lu Yi sought a jail term of three to four months, describing the harm as moderate. However, District Judge Vince Gui ruled that the injuries were severe, noting that the amputation was permanent. He also agreed that biting constituted an aggravated form of assault due to the risk of disease transmission.
Li was sentenced to eight months and two weeks’ imprisonment. Although she initially told the court she would accept the decision, she later indicated her intention to appeal, saying she had expected to receive only a fine.
