‘Take me on this road, I’ll cry’

[ad_1]

Shaffiq Alkhatib The Straits Times January 18, 2023

Standing in the courtroom moments before the start of proceedings on Wednesday, Madame Hindocha Nita Vishnubhai, 57, suddenly burst into tears.

It was the first day of trial for Wong Xing Fong, the man accused of assaulting Madame Nita in a racist attack in 2021, and she had to step outside to collect herself before returning to testify behind an opaque screen set up in the courtroom. .

The reasons for this were not disclosed.

In court, the woman said she would cry if she returned to the scene of the incident.

Madame Nita said Wong used vulgar words before kicking her in the chest.

Her voice cracked as she told District Judge Shaiffudin Saruwan: (The incident) affects me emotionally…I feel sad and scared. Is it wrong to be Indian? I didn’t choose to be Indian…I wish that wouldn’t happen.

She also said: Until today, you (take) me on this road, I will cry. I was very scared.

Wong, 32, is seeking trial on one count of assaulting and injuring Ms. Nitas’ racial feelings.

The Singaporean is accused of committing the offenses near the Northvale Condominium in Choa Chu Kang on May 7, 2021.

On Wednesday, Ms Nita testified that at the time of the alleged assault she was working at a fast food restaurant at Choa Chu Kang Stadium in the mornings and as a private English tutor in the evenings.

She told Judge Shaiffudin that she was walking quickly towards the stadium with her mask down on May 7, 2021, when she heard someone shouting from behind.

She said she turned around and saw Wong and a female companion. She added that she did not know the couple before the alleged assault and they told her to hide.

Madame Nita said she was aware that wearing a mask outside was compulsory at the time due to the Covid-19 pandemic and that exceptions were made for those exercising. She had lowered her mask to improve her breathing as she walked quickly.

She testified that she told the couple that she was walking quickly.

Wong then walked up to her and used vulgar racist words to insult her, she told the court.

She added: I don’t like to fight, so I said, God bless you… Before I could think, he came up to me and kicked me in the chest. I was unprepared. It was very fast. I fell on my back… I screamed in fear.

Before I could react, he ran towards the lady, and they ran (away), casually, as if nothing had happened.

Mrs. Nita said another woman who had witnessed the incident came forward and helped her up. She said the woman applied a bandage to a wound on her left forearm.

Mrs. Nita said she made a police report after class that night.

She told the court that she was still scared about a month after the incident.

Every time I walked (in the neighborhood) I was scared because I thought (my attacker) was going to hit me… I wish I didn’t have to go there, she added.

She finally took another path to the restaurant.

During Madam Nita’s interrogation, defense attorney Sim Bing Wen said that according to his client, she told Wong to mind his own business and spat on him.

Madame Nita denied this.

The trial will resume on Thursday.

[ad_2]