A Singaporean man has been handed a nine-month prison term for attacking local actor Ryan Lian with a knife following a confrontation at NEX shopping centre.
Aaron Samuel Yukon, 22, used a karambit knife to slash the actor’s face during an altercation that began as a dispute over smoking etiquette.
Background and Incident
The attack took place on 22 November 2024 at approximately 6pm outside the NEX shopping mall in Serangoon. Yukon entered a guilty plea on 7 November to a charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
A separate charge related to carrying an offensive weapon was considered during sentencing.
How the Confrontation Unfolded
According to Shin Min Daily News, both Lian and Yukon were smoking in a covered walkway when tensions arose over perceived staring. What began as a verbal exchange quickly deteriorated into physical violence.
The two men engaged in a fistfight and tumbled to the ground during the struggle.
At this point, Yukon retrieved a karambit knife from his pocket. While initially sheathed, the protective covering came off during the altercation, and Yukon proceeded to strike Lian’s face with the exposed blade several times.
The Victim’s Injuries
Following the attack, Yukon fled while Lian remained at the scene. With blood streaming from his face, Lian received assistance from two off-duty medical professionals who happened to be nearby. Emergency services subsequently transported him to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Medical examination revealed that Lian had sustained multiple fractures to his facial bones, along with various cuts and scrapes resulting from the encounter.
Arrest and Charges
Yukon was apprehended the following day after presenting himself at Changi General Hospital for treatment of his own wounds, as reported by Shin Min Daily News.
His documented injuries comprised bruising to his forehead, scrapes on his right elbow and hand, cuts on his left forearm and hand, and abrasions on his right knee.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
During the 7 November hearing, Yukon’s legal representative contended that Lian had been the instigator, alleging the actor had physically restrained and forced Yukon to the ground.
The defence requested a maximum sentence of seven-and-a-half months, highlighting that Yukon had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia during childhood.
In contrast, prosecutors pushed for a sentence ranging from nine to eleven months, emphasising that Yukon had targeted a sensitive area of Lian’s body with a weapon in a public setting.
Yukon’s mother was visibly emotional following the sentencing announcement.
His father acknowledged that carrying a knife was unacceptable and that his son needed to face the consequences of his actions. However, he also suggested that Lian bore partial responsibility, pointing to the injuries his son had sustained.
Under Singapore law, a conviction for voluntarily causing grievous hurt carries a maximum penalty of up to ten years’ imprisonment, along with potential fines or caning.
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