Doctor who threatened elderly father with knife gets 12 months’ probation
SINGAPORE — A doctor who was suffering from depression when she held a knife to her 81-year-old father’s neck in 2014 was yesterday sentenced to serve 12 months’ probation, with the judge noting that this was a “most unusual” and sad case.
Tham Kwang Wei, 43, a senior consultant at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), used an 18cm-long knife to threaten her father, Dr Tham Ngiap Boo, because she believed that he owed God S$150,000 from contributions he had pledged to the church but not paid.
An Institute of Mental Health (IMH) report found that her mental disorder of depression with psychotic features was linked to her offences.
“This case is also a stark reminder of the dangers of untreated depression combined with high work levels and personal stress,” said District Judge Mathew Joseph, adding that the mental condition can creep up suddenly and destroy a person almost overnight. “(It is) no respecter of profession or status.”
The case is also a reminder that employers, schools, institutions, family and friends must be vigilant and pay special heed to unusual behaviour, said the judge.
Assistance must also be provided to affected persons — who in most cases may be unaware of their condition — before it escalates into unpleasant consequences, he added.
Tham was also found guilty of voluntarily causing hurt to her father by holding his neck in an armlock and biting him on his left arm.
Another two charges of being armed with a knife without lawful authority or purpose and of forging a cheque of about S$28,000 three days before the incident were taken into consideration.
Tham, who has recovered from her condition and has returned to full-time work as a director at the SGH Life Centre’s Obesity and Metabolic Unit, went to her father’s clinic on Sept 30, 2014, claiming that he owed God S$150,000. She asked him for the money so she could return it.
When he refused, Tham took out a knife and held it to his neck. When he tried to push her away and called for help, his clinic assistant opened the door but was forced out by Tham.
She then forced him into a chair and held his neck in an armlock. He was struggling and trying to break free when another clinic assistant came and took the knife from her. During the struggle, Tham also bit her father’s left forearm.
In mitigation, defence lawyer Selva K Naidu said his client’s father stopped making monthly contributions he had pledged to the church in June 2013 as he had stopped attending church.
She felt that her father’s reneging on his pledge was wrong and even took a loan totalling S$27,760 from the bank to pay the church.
He added that the IMH report stated that Tham had no insight into her condition. Her actions appeared to be driven by psychotic experiences related to her religious/spiritual beliefs which made her believe that her actions were morally correct, according to the report.
Mr Naidu also said SGH was aware of the charges against Tham, as well as of her psychiatric condition. Having assessed the situation, SGH found her to be fit to continue her practice of medicine with the hospital and continue with her usual duties there.
The judge said that Tham’s supervisor had given her a hugely favourable report which was a “clear indication of (her) commitment and dedication to (her) profession”.
He found that she can continue to be a useful member to society given that her medical skills are still intact and also agreed with the prosecution that there was no need for community service as she already serves the community.
Mr Joseph added: “(You have spent) several years in the public sector and healed many persons with your specialist skills. Now, it is your time for your own healing and seek the help of others.”
Tham could have been jailed up to two years and/or fined for criminal intimidation. For voluntarily causing hurt, she could have been jailed up to two years and/or fined up to S$5,000.
