Couple who bullied elderly man at Toa Payoh hawker centre fined, woman wants to say “really sorry to uncle”

A couple who got into a spat with an elderly man at a hawker centre in Toa Payoh in June has been fined S$2,700 on Friday (11 August).

Chow Chuin Yee, 46, was fined $1,500 for using criminal force by using his body to push against 76-year-old Ng Ai Hua.

His partner, Tay Puay Leng, 39, was fined S$1,200 for using abusive words on Mr Ng with the intent to cause alarm, the local media reported.

Chow and Tay were arrested in April after the police received reports about a couple who had allegedly used offensive language and force against Mr Ng at the hawker centre in Toa Payoh Lorong 8.

A video was widely circulated on social media in late April showing Tay shouting at an elderly man, apparently over a seat at a table at the hawker centre. In the same video, Chow was seen to have shoved the same elderly man from behind, nearly knocking him over.

Speaking to reporters outside State Courts, a tearful Tay said: “I can’t think, but I am relieved that it is over. I only have one thing to say I just want to say that I am really sorry to uncle, but I really didn’t mean to do that.

“I have been going through a very tough time being a sole caregiver to my grandmother who is 89 years old with advanced dementia and is bedridden. She’s been in and out of the hospital during that period several times. All I hope was just to have a quick dinner and go back to take care of her.

“I really did not mean to say that. I was always hoping that I could say sorry to uncle in person. But because the investigations were going on, the police did not allow me to do that. Therefore all I could ask was to pass the apology letter to the IO (Investigation Officer), hoping that it can be handed to uncle.

“If I can, I would gladly want to apologise to him in person. I didn’t mean to dispute with (the) uncle, but I just snapped that day. I hope that everyone can allow me to continue from here,” she said.

Chow told reporters that “people (have been) pointing fingers” at them everywhere they went.

“I have been trying to keep a very low profile. I was just lost that day.

“There is no excuse for my behaviour. Even after watching the video, I feel disgusted with myself. We would like to apologise not only to Mr Ng but also to the public (and) netizens. I hope everybody can give us a chance to live our normal lives again,” he said.

Here’s the full video via TODAY:

Top image features Chow and Tay speaking to reporters outside State Courts. Image is a screen grab via TODAY’s video.