On November 5 last year, Wang returned to the room they rented together after finishing work.
Not wanting to disturb his roommate with his snoring, he moved his mattress from their room to the living room.
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In the meantime, the roommate was watching a live game on his mobile phone while having dinner in the living room.
“The accused then confronted the complainant, alleging that the complainant was playing the live game at a high volume and disturbing his rest,” Phua said.
“A verbal dispute ensued, with the accused and complainant exchanging vulgarities.”
Noticing a pair of scissors lying near the sofa in the living room, Wang picked them up and charged towards his roommate. Wang then choked him, before trying to stab him with the scissors.
The homeowner, a 45-year-old female Singaporean, intervened and took the scissors from Wang.
Wang then walked to the kitchen and grabbed a 24cm kitchen knife, before charging at his roommate again.
Although the homeowner tried to get hold of the knife, Wang pushed her aside before stabbing his roommate above the left rib cage.
The roommate was left with a 1cm wound and a bad bruise at the site of the stab injury.
Given the weapon you used, you should be thankful no more serious injuries were caused
Phua sought a sentence of between 11 and 13 months’ jail, noting that the roommate was given 13 days of hospitalisation leave due to the injuries.
“The victim had sustained a stab wound above his left rib cage, which is close to his vital organs,” she added.
Wang, who was not represented by a lawyer, pleaded for leniency in Mandarin, promising to “turn over a new leaf” and that he was very remorseful.
In sentencing, District Judge Kenneth Chin said that Wang’s offence was serious.
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“Given the weapon you used, you should be thankful no more serious injuries were caused. If not, you would be expecting a heavier sentence,” he added.
Wang’s sentence will be backdated by a day, taking into account the one day he spent in remand.
For voluntarily causing hurt using a weapon, he could have been jailed for up to seven years, fined, caned or a combination of the three.