The Straits Times, Singapore, 13 November 1974

Man who carried a knife after quarrel

A 29-YEAR-OLD building contractor was jailed for nine months and ordered to be given six strokes of the cane by the Second District Court yesterday for unlawfully having a scout knife.

Teo Hwee Tian was arrested by two police constables at a block of flats in Bendemeer Road at 3.26 a.m. yesterday after he was caught throwing the knife into a dustbin.

Teo, who was not represented by counsel, said in mitigation that his wife had a misunderstanding with a neighbour earlier that day.

When he telephoned the neighbour subsequently, the neighbour abused him and challenged him to go to his flat to have a talk.

Teo said he took along his knife for self-defence.

In passing sentence, the judge Miss Jenny Lau, however observed that people did not normally talk things over at 3.26 a.m. She pointed out that the maximum sentence for the offence was five years.