A 72-year-old Chinese-origin businessman in Singapore was on Monday jailed for eight-and-a-half years for stabbing his Indian-origin son-in-law to death at a coffee shop in broad daylight following disputes over his handling of the family business and extra-marital affairs.
Tan Nam Seng pleaded guilty last month to a charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder by stabbing 38-year-old Spencer Tuppani three years ago during a busy lunch hour in the central business district, according to a Channel News Asia report.
Justice Dedar Singh Gill said this was a “vicious and brazen killing” but noted the accused’s major depressive disorder at the time, as well as his “fast-deteriorating” health, which the judge said weighed heavily on his mind, the report said.
Tuppani had made several business moves that Tan perceived as a ploy to cheat him of his company.Tan exacted revenge on his son-in-law in a “brutal, public and unprovoked killing” in broad daylight, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Lim Jian Yi.Defence lawyer Wee Pan Lee asked for seven-and-a-half years’ jail.
However, medical evidence has established that Tan had major depressive disorder and was experiencing an episode at the time, said the judge.
He was also in a pervasive dysphoric state and was worried about the well-being of his daughters.
This state of mind adversely affected his impulse control and judgment, and significantly impaired his mental responsibility for the act, the judge added.
For culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Tan could have been jailed for life.
He cannot be caned as he is above 50.
