SINGAPORE, Nov 11 — A father and son from China sold their family car and took out bank loans to chase a business dream in Singapore — only to end up behind bars after their investment went sour.
Gao Yong, 50, and his son Gao Zhenhan, 25, were sentenced to 10 weeks’ jail each today after pleading guilty to assaulting a 35-year-old Malaysian businessman they blamed for their financial troubles.
According to The Straits Times, the pair had poured at least S$18,000 (RM57,000) into a beverage business in Singapore, hoping to establish themselves in the city-state.
But their plans unravelled when the Malaysian businessman told them he could not secure work permits for them — and failed to return their investment.
Determined to get their money back, the father and son flew to Singapore on October 14 to confront him.
Their first stop was his shop, but he was nowhere to be found.
With no apparent accommodation arranged, the pair spent the night sleeping rough nearby.
The following day, they travelled by train to VivoCity shopping mall, where they spotted the businessman at a basement food court.
What followed was a confrontation that quickly turned violent.
When the Malaysian headed towards his parked car, the elder Gao chased him, swung his hand at his head and shoved him into the vehicle.
His son then pinned the man against a car seat to stop him from escaping.
The pair punched the businessman repeatedly while demanding RMB200,000, according to court documents.
The victim initially offered S$5,000 to settle the dispute, before raising the amount to S$10,000.
But Gao Yong rejected both offers.
The confrontation ended when two security officers approached the vehicle and alerted the police.
Both men were arrested shortly afterwards.
The Malaysian suffered superficial injuries to his face, neck and shoulders.
Under Singapore law, assault carries a maximum penalty of three years’ jail, a S$5,000 fine, or both.
