UNHAPPY with the bad appraisal given by his supervisor, a worker came up with a violent way to express his disgust - he hired a thug to attack the supervisor.
Karunanithi Veeramuthu, 38, a tree pruning supervisor conspired with his friend, Jayram Muttu Krishna, 38, to hire Suhaimi Juma'at, 35, to assault NParks officer Surinam Sumsudin.
It happened after Ms Surinam had complained about Karunanithi's 'inept performance' to her superiors.
Karunanithi asked Jayram if he knew of anyone willing to assault the NParks officer for $1,000.
Jayram put him in touch with Suhaimi whom he knew was short on cash. Suhaimi subsequently contacted Karunanithi and the two made arrangements for Suhaimi to attack Ms Surinam.
On 13 Mar last year, Suhaimi attacked MsSurinam with a 20cm knife which had a 10cm blade, as she was walking up the stairs of Blk 605, Bedok Reservoir Road.
He stabbed her three times, once in the back and twice in her chest.
Ms Surinam had to undergo emergency treatment at Changi General Hospital and was given 34 days medical leave.
Witnesses saw the attacker and the police later established his identity.
The culprits were dealt with separately.
Jayram admitted knowing of the scheme to harm Ms Surinam and had introduced the other two men to each other.
In passing judgment, District Judge Wong Keen Onn noted that Jayram's 'participation was crucial to the commission of the offence'.
Without him introducing Suhaimi to Karunanithi, the crime would not have taken place.
But he escaped caning because the judge found Jayram did not know a weapon would be used, as the original intent was to cause simple hurt.
Still Jayram could not be let off easily as he had a previous record for attempted robbery.
Also, the judge said there is a need to protect public officers against acts of violence which would prevent them from carrying out their duties.
He sentenced Jayram to six months jail. He is appealing against the sentence, and is out on bail.
For conspiring to harm a public servant, he could have been jailed up to five years.
Suhaimi was jailed for 11 years and given 14 strokes of the cane.
ASSAILANT STABS SUPERVISOR THRICE
1 Tree pruning supervisor Karunanithi gets bad appraisal from Ms Surinam.
2 Karunanithi gets his friend Jayram to hire someone to assault MsSurinam for $1,000.
3 Ms Surinam stabbed thrice at Bedok Reservoir block.
This article was first published in The New Paper on September 6, 2008.
