Andrew Suresh Markandan, 47, has been sentenced to three weeks in jail after admitting to two counts of voluntarily causing hurt in a case that drew public attention through viral footage. The Singapore court accepted his guilty plea on Wednesday, July 29, concluding a legal process that began when the assault was documented at Lucky Plaza, one of Singapore's well-known shopping destinations in Orchard Road's vicinity.
The confrontation unfolded on February 8 when the accused met his girlfriend at the mall. According to the State Prosecuting Officer Zakir Hussain, tensions escalated when the woman disclosed that her 15-year-old son had received financial support from his biological father. Andrew Suresh Markandan became visibly distressed by this revelation, interpreting it as a betrayal given that he had himself contributed financially to the boy's upbringing and the broader household expenses. The emotional trigger was compounded by what he perceived as a diminishing role in the family unit, particularly given his prior material investment in their welfare.
The situation deteriorated further when the couple was socialising at a nearby pub. When a female friend of his girlfriend warmly greeted her with a kiss and embrace, Andrew's dissatisfaction intensified. The accused viewed this physical affection between his partner and her friend as inappropriate, though the interaction was innocent in nature. Recognising her partner's displeasure, the girlfriend decided to leave the establishment with her friend, attempting to defuse the mounting tension.
Yet the accused would not allow the matter to rest. He pursued his girlfriend, and upon spotting her engaged with her mobile phone, he became suspicious that she was communicating with her former partner—the biological father of her son. This suspicion ignited a heated confrontation between them at Lucky Plaza. Andrew demanded access to her phone, which she had secured in her handbag, refusing to surrender it. The argument escalated rapidly into physical violence when he forcibly pushed her into a corner of the mall and grabbed her from behind with both arms in an attempt to reach her bag.
Witnesses reported that Andrew attempted to force his girlfriend towards a lift, but she resisted his efforts. The physical struggle attracted the attention of shoppers and passersby at the mall. In desperation, the woman fled into a shop to request assistance from staff, but the accused followed her inside. There, he delivered a punch to the back of her head and kicked her back multiple times. The assault resulted in multiple bruises across her shoulder, thigh, and shin. A courageous bystander helped her escape the mall whilst several others intervened to physically restrain the aggressor.
When the footage of the assault circulated online and began receiving media coverage, Andrew recognised the potential legal consequences. On February 10, two days after the incident, he attempted to dissuade his girlfriend from filing a police report by reaching out to her and offering financial compensation. However, she rejected his offer and reported the matter to police the following day, demonstrating her determination to pursue accountability regardless of his attempts at reconciliation through monetary means.
The February 8 assault was not an isolated incident in this relationship. The court was informed of a prior attack that occurred on March 30, 2025, near a hotel in Bugis. The couple had attempted to secure accommodation at the hotel but were unable to do so because Andrew did not have his physical NRIC—the National Registration Identity Card required for such transactions. After leaving the establishment, his girlfriend suggested they return to their respective homes given the late hour. However, Andrew insisted they proceed to his residence so he could retrieve his NRIC and return to complete the hotel booking.
This disagreement sparked a violent altercation between them. During the argument, Andrew seized his girlfriend's phone and hurled it to the ground, demonstrating his growing aggression. He then attempted to grab her handbag to force her compliance with his demands. When she refused to cooperate, he slapped her twice and pushed her forcefully onto the ground. The woman managed to walk away and sat near the hotel entrance to distance herself from him, but Andrew pursued her, forcibly took her handbag, and left with it.
When he attempted to re-enter the hotel, staff members intervened and prevented him from proceeding further. The victim sought protection and assistance from the hotel's staff, who contacted the police on her behalf. This earlier assault left her with facial redness, scratches on her right forearm, and abrasions on her right knee. The police subsequently recovered her handbag from Andrew later that evening, establishing the material facts of his culpability.
The sentencing carries particular significance given Singapore's stringent approach to domestic violence. Under the Penal Code, the offence of voluntarily causing hurt carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment, a fine up to S$5,000, or both. The relatively lenient sentence of three weeks—substantially below the maximum—reflects the early guilty plea and potentially other mitigating factors presented to the court. However, for Malaysian observers, the case underscores how neighbouring jurisdictions handle relationship violence and the importance of documented evidence in domestic assault cases, particularly when public footage becomes available.
The case also illustrates broader patterns in relationship violence, where insecurity, financial contribution, and perceived infidelity become triggers for aggression. The victim's decision to report despite reconciliation offers and compensation demonstrates growing awareness among Southeast Asian women about the necessity of legal accountability in abusive relationships, setting an important precedent for how such incidents should be handled within the region.
