In a shocking incident, a British national, identified as Mark Alan Edge, has been sentenced to 13 months’ imprisonment after being found guilty of assaulting a kind-hearted man who mistakenly boarded the same Grab car as Edge and his wife. The incident occurred on July 12, 2020, along Holland Avenue.
According to the report, both Edge and his wife were intoxicated when they unintentionally entered the ride, which had been booked by the victim, a 62-year-old man described by the prosecutors as a “good Samaritan.”
Upon realizing their mistake, the couple immediately alighted the vehicle but left Edge’s wife’s phone behind.
Realizing the situation, the victim boarded the Grab car, intending to return the forgotten phone to its rightful owner. Edge later contacted the female Grab driver, who was already en route to the original drop-off destination, requesting the return of the phone.
During her testimony, the Grab driver revealed that she had urged the victim to accompany her back to Holland Village due to Edge’s drunken state, fearing for her safety. Agreeing to her request, the victim consented. However, as the car arrived in Holland Village, Edge launched a surprise attack on the victim, striking him from behind and repeatedly assaulting him.
As a result of the brutal beating, the victim suffered fractures to his finger and eye socket. Edge erroneously believed that the victim was attempting to extort money from him in exchange for the phone, the report added.
During the trial, Edge’s wife testified but claimed she could not recall the entire sequence of events. She alleged that the victim had initiated aggression towards her husband.
District Judge Luke Tan ultimately convicted Edge, highlighting that he had consistently punched the victim’s face and forcibly pushed him to the ground. The prosecution sought a jail term of 18 to 21 months along with a compensation order of S$14,481.30, including three months’ imprisonment in lieu of six strokes of the cane.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Michelle Tay condemned Edge’s “unprovoked violent campaign,” which led to severe injuries including fractures, lacerations, black eyes, post-concussion syndrome, and vertigo for the victim.
The victim, a director at Manulife Singapore, has filed a civil suit against Edge, seeking compensation for his medical expenses amounting to S$14,481.30.
Although the prosecution requested a compensation order, the judge declined, citing that the civil trial would be the appropriate platform to determine the issue of compensation, damages, or other related matters.
Under Singaporean law, Edge could have faced a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine for voluntarily causing grievous hurt. Due to his age, however, he cannot be subjected to caning.
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