SINGAPORE: A dog handler linked to a video of a dog being abused was charged in court on Wednesday (Nov 29) with animal cruelty.
Ng Zhaohui Matthew, a 39-year-old Singaporean man, is accused of beating a dog cruelly at 450 MacPherson Road at about 10.45pm on Mar 20 last year.
He is accused of striking the dog with a metal bowl when he was a licensee of K9 Connection, the charge sheet stated.
A video posted on Facebook page Chained Dog Awareness in Singapore in July 2022 showed a dog cowering as he is struck by a person wielding a metal bowl.
In the video, a person is heard telling the dog: “Welcome to hell, my friend. Four weeks of hell.”
The chained dog bares his teeth in reaction to the swipes, but loses its balance in the video clip and is later shown curled up in a corner.
The Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) said at the time that it had suspended the handler involved from a list of accredited dog trainers.
The AVS said the dog was safe and returned to its owner after the incident.
On Wednesday, a prosecutor with the National Parks Board (NParks) said he did not have a confirmed sentencing position but would be seeking a fine.
Ng’s lawyer said the charge was slightly different from the charge that was shown to her client.
The previous charge named the dog involved and alleged that Ng kicked the dog. It also did not state the capacity in which Ng was charged, as a licensee.
The defence lawyer was told to take instructions from her client and make representations on behalf of her client over the differences in the two charges.
The case will be heard again in January.
If convicted of animal cruelty in the course of an animal-related business, Ng can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to S$40,000 (US$30,000), or both.