Filipino jailed in Singapore for punching wife

SINGAPORE – A Filipino national who punched his wife twice in the face during an argument was ordered jailed for four months on Friday for causing grievous hurt.

Ronnie Ambion Vasquez, 26, a cargo forwarder, admitted grievously hurting Milagros Castillo Vasquez, 42, who suffered multiple fractures to her jaw, at a room in Concorde Hotel on Oct 3.

A district court heard that the victim, Vasquez and their daughters were on vacation in Singapore when the couple got into an argument. The court was not told what the argument was over.

Vasquez lost his temper and punched the victim twice and she started to bleed from her mouth.

Fearing for her and her daughters’ safety, the victim told her husband that she wanted to see a dentist to fix her teeth, Vasquez tried to stop her initially but subsequently allowed her to leave the hotel room with their daughters.

She reported the incident to the concierge and took a taxi to Mount Elizabeth Hospital where she was found to have multiple fractures and broken teeth. The court heard that the victim left for Australia the next day.

Pleading for leniency, Vasquez sobbed when he said he realized his mistake and regretted his action.

District Judge Janet Wang said the court takes a very serious view of domestic violence, adding that the nature of the victim’s injuries was also something the court would take into account.

He could have been jailed for up to 10 years and liable to fine or to caning.

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