Jail, caning for man who held woman hostage at knifepoint

A repeat offender who held a 60-year-old woman hostage at knifepoint in Yishun in January 2023 was sentenced to eight years and a month’s jail, and six strokes of the cane on July 30.

- Shaffiq Alkhatib

On May 28, Mohamed Faizal Mohamed Ariff, 43, pleaded guilty to one count each of drug consumption, harassment, abduction and assaulting a police officer.

In earlier proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Delicia Tan said Faizal had been sentenced to five years and six months’ jail with three strokes of the cane after he was convicted of morphine consumption in 2014. Following his release, Faizal had a relapse and returned to his drug habit after he smoked methamphetamine, also known as Ice, in June 2022.

On the morning of Jan 9, 2023, he consumed the drug and was later seen walking around Yishun while holding a knife. An eyewitness alerted the police, and officers arrived at the scene at around 7.45am.