OCD Father Goes Rage, Turns Home into an Agony Arena
What Went Down
At 11 pm on 28 Jan, Foo Shun Xiang (37), suffering from obsessive‑compulsive disorder, spotted his dad Foo Sah Leong (68) casually wiping his mouth and nose with the same tissue. Trigger? He snapped, grabbed a 1.2‑m aluminium pole and set it straight into his father’s chest, then kept the pounding even after blood welled out.
When his mum Madam Chow Ah Lee (65) tried to calm him, the pole turned into a melee weapon. Multiple blows eventually shattered the pole; the damage left her with three fractured ribs. The whole scene had the feel of a slap‑stick tragedy: a brother‑in‑law turned deranged, a parent under attack, and an aluminium stick turning into a “coconut” weapon.
Aftermath and Legal Fallout
- Foo pleaded guilty to one count of causing grievous hurt (over Madam Chow) on 16 Oct. The second charge—his assault on his father—will be examined when the sentencing comes.
- Despite an OCD diagnosis in 2009, Foo has been squandering his prescribed meds, letting the condition run rampant.
- He has a history of controlling his parents: a “cleanliness regime” he enforces, swift discipline by scolding or hitting them if they slip up.
- He threatened further violence if his parents reported him. Thanks to this intimidation, incidents from 2009‑present went unreported.
Hospital, Lies, and the Police File
After the pole shattered, the battered mother—experiencing severe rib pain around 5 pm the next day—made a hospital run. Foo raised his voice and coerced his parents into misreporting the incident as a robbery by “dark‑skinned foreigners.” He said he wanted their lie to avoid police reports.
When a nurse at Singapore General Hospital drove the story to the police on 31 Jan, Madam Chow first claimed a robbery (Feb 1). She later confessed on 2 Feb that the claim was fabricated to protect her son. The court documents do not yet say whether she will face any enforcement for this false statement.
Current Status
Foo remains in remand, awaiting sentencing on 23 Oct. The story remains a cautionary tale: when mental health issues go untreated, families can find themselves not only in physical harm but also in a labyrinth of lies and legal entanglement.
