Prison Fight Gets a Badly Unfurling Twist
Picture a tidy workshop at Changi Prison, where two inmates were packing coffee sachets. Suddenly, the calm is shattered by a heated stare‑off that turns into a full‑blown brawl—and, unfortunately, a ruined ear.
The Realistic Backdrop
- Teo Chye Lye, 56, is a 200‑plus‑year veteran of the torch‑lit squad. He’s been in and out of jail since 1998, fighting crimes from assault to drug offences.
- Lim Lee Yat, 53, now carries a permanently disfigured left ear after trying to keep his head in the coffee‑packing business.
From Coffee Grinds to Coffee‑Earned Grit
It all began on 15 December last year. Teo, with a cup of coffee mixture still flowing, lobs a splash on Lim’s side of the table. Lim complains, the two argue, and the vibe shifts from “let’s do our jobs” to “don’t be so calculative.” The tension flares when Lim throws a bump, they both swing, and the next thing you know, Teo’s teeth are biting down on the upper part of Lim’s ear.
That cut‑tough moment led to the unfortunate result: the part of Lim’s ear pinna was completely severed. Even after the medical team swoops in, they couldn’t reattach the piece. Teo goes home with a bruised face, and Lim? Well, he’s permanently missing a little jewelry from his ear.
Justice Cuts a Bit Separated
Teo’s latest stint was marked by an 10‑month prison sentence he pleaded guilty to on 6 August. He will only start sitting his time after he finishes the earlier curve on his record. The court’s chief prosecutor urges a 10‑15 month sentence for the insistent offender.
Under Singapore law, if the judge chooses, the maximum penalty could be 5 years in jail with up to $10,000 in fines— a pretty serious note for a person who’s been a veteran of the parole system.
Final Thoughts
There’s truly a harsh moral lesson in the tale: people who get into fights inside prison get because of the long‐running list of bad things they do, not because they wanted to do something wrong. It is unfortunate how intense the fight, and its consequences is even after his earlier release. The ending of the case – a tragedy that will remain a lesson for those planning to commit a serious criminal offence.
