Woman Pleads Guilty to Kicking Lion Dance Head & Pouring Coffee on It

If you read the headline, you’re probably scratching your head, wondering why a woman would have a problem with a lion dance to the extent of kicking its head and pouring coffee on it.

Unfortunately, the woman truly did have an issue with the lion dance.

Woman Pleads Guilty to Kicking Lion Dance Head & Pouring Coffee on It

While the woman finally pleads guilty, this incident dates back to 2023.

Lim Sok Lay, 52, has pleaded guilty to damaging a lion dance costume by pouring coffee on it and pushing a man in two separate incidents.

The first incident occurred at West Coast Community Centre, where she poured coffee on the costume and kicked its head.

On 29 July 2023, Lim and her husband visited West Coast Community Centre, where their son’s troupe was preparing for a performance. Around 3:45pm, Lim poured coffee on the lion dance costumes, leaving stains that could not be removed, and then kicked the head of one of the costumes.

Her actions disrupted the performance for approximately 10 minutes before she was escorted out. According to Shin Min Daily News, this prevented the event from going ahead as planned.

The damage caused to the costume resulted in a loss of S$1,330.

Lim faced charges of mischief and criminal force, to which she pleaded guilty on 3 February 2025.

Woman Disapproves of Son’s Involvement in Lion Dance Troupe

Following extensive investigation, it was alleged that the woman objected to the lion dance due to her belief that her son’s involvement in the troupe was a bad influence.

This speculation arose after the court heard that Lim and her husband had argued with their son about his participation in the lion dance troupe.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Tin Shu Min stated that Lim disapproved of the troupe, believing it to have a negative impact on him.

Two Additional Charges Against the Woman

Lim and her husband have a history of legal issues.

Unfortunately, this incident was not their first nor their only one.

According to Channel News Asia, two additional charges will be considered when she is sentenced on 26 February 2025.

Her husband, 60-year-old Cheang Eng Hock, allegedly took part in the coffee-pouring incident and is set to plead guilty on 21 February.

In a separate incident, Lim physically confronted a man at a Punggol coffeeshop, accusing him of scratching her young grandson.

She had allowed a man to carry her crying grandson while queuing for food. Later that night, she noticed a scratch on the boy’s nose and accused the man of causing it.

At the coffeeshop in Waterway Ridges, an HDB estate in Punggol, she repeatedly pushed the man in anger. However, investigations found no evidence linking him to the scratch.

Fortunately, this time, no one had coffee poured over their heads… Phew.

In 2022, they were fined for harassing their neighbours, one of whom was a nurse, by shouting “COVID spreaders” and spraying disinfectant at them.

Despite Lim’s lawyer, Nichol Yeo, informing the court of her remorse, she faces serious consequences.

For mischief, she could be jailed for up to two years, fined, or both. For criminal force, she faces up to three months in jail, a fine of up to S$1,500, or both.