A teenager who threatened family members with knives during multiple domestic disputes has been ordered to undergo at least one year of reformative training.
The youth, now 17, pleaded guilty on Jan 5 to four charges, including assault, criminal intimidation, harassment and cheating by personation, according to court proceedings reported by The Straits Times. Eight additional charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.
One of the most serious incidents occurred on July 14, 2024, when the then 15-year-old argued with his father over his allowance. During the confrontation at their home, the teen retrieved a karambit knife from his room and charged at his father. When the father managed to wrestle the knife away, the boy punched him in the face.
Less than a year later, on March 8, 2025, the teen again threatened his father during an argument over how long the air-conditioner should be switched on. He fetched a knife with a 23cm blade and stood silently near his father in a menacing manner, which prosecutors said was intended to cause fear.
In another incident on Oct 25, 2025, the teen threatened his uncle—whom he was living with at the time—after being refused S$30. He held a karambit to his uncle’s throat and asked whether the man knew he could be killed.
The court also heard that the teen attempted to collect a mobile phone from a shop using a fake identity card, responding to an advertisement promising “fast cash”.
The court ordered the teen to undergo reformative training, a custodial programme aimed at rehabilitation through counselling, discipline, and vocational development.
