Once in a while, we have new contenders for Yishun’s title of the “Ghetto of Singapore”.
This week, Hougang presents itself as the newest competitor for Yishun’s title after a fight broke out in a Hougang coffee shop over… cigarette butts.
People Get into a Fight in Hougang Coffeeshop Over Cigarette Butts
On Friday (16 June), diners at the coffee shop located at Block 327 Hougang Avenue 5 found themselves with front-row seats to a live wrestling match.
A fight broke out at the coffee shop around 9 pm because a group of patrons had thrown their cigarette butts on the ground instead of in the ashtray.
We’re not sure why they decided to fight at the Hougang coffee shop itself—have they never heard of the age-old “Settle tomorrow, 4 pm at Pioneer Mall”?
Anyway, here’s how the fight broke out.
A 50-year-old woman surnamed Zhuo had brought her siblings and her 86-year-old mother to have dinner at the coffee shop. The family sat in the corner.
This is where the dispute starts brewing—Zhuo and her siblings smoked after finishing their meal. However, they didn’t dispose of their cigarette butts in the ashtrays provided.
They disposed of it on the ground. Specifically, they threw it onto a nearby grass patch.
A particular group of diners at the coffee shop wasn’t pleased with this.
Friends of a 63-year-old surnamed Tan, who frequent the Hougang coffee shop, approached Zhuo and her siblings twice urging them to dispose of their cigarette butts properly.
However, this is where the story becomes the classic “he says, she says” situation.
On the one hand, Tan and his friends recount that Zhuo and her siblings dared Tan’s friends to direct their complaints to the police instead, adding that the family had no problems paying a saman.
Tan also claims that the fight was sparked after Zhuo and her siblings threw chairs and shoes at Tan’s friend group.
On the other hand, Zhuo peddles a different story. Zhuo denies provoking Tan and his friends. Instead, she claims that Tan and his friends were the ones who initiated the brawl.
So, who do you think started the fight?
Two Individuals Arrested; Three Sustained Minor Injuries
According to Shin Min Daily News, the fight was a brutal one. There were bloodstains seen on the floor. Zhuo’s sister was also bloodied.
These patrons are certainly putting Hougang on the map, but in the “Yishun” way—that can’t be great.
The police have since confirmed that two men involved in the brawl, aged 53 and 63, have been arrested.
Investigations are currently ongoing.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) also confirmed that three individuals sustained minor injuries. Two were sent to the Sengkang General Hospital, while the last refused to be hospitalised.
Ladies and gents, we have a geh kiang fella here.
There seems to have been much more blood than kopi spilt at coffee shops in the past year.
A brawl broke out in a Taman Jurong coffee shop in September last year over an alleged molest case. The fight was a bloody one.
Returning to the original ghetto, Yishun, we also saw a coffee shop fight break out in June last year after a diner got angry at a beer lady.
Hais… Can’t even eat supper in peace these days.
