Pasir Ris mall slashing: Victims and alleged attacker were business rivals

SINGAPORE: A man who slashed three people at Pasir Ris West Plaza on Wednesday (Dec 20) was said to be their business rival and had argued with the victims before the attack.

On Wednesday, the police were called to the mall at about 4.50pm in response to a slashing incident. Loh Chye Hoe, 61, was arrested at the scene for voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon.

The elderly man was charged on Thursday with attempted murder. He was found with injuries sustained during the attack and taken semi-conscious to hospital, the police said.

Three people – a 46-year-old man and two women in their 50s – were also taken to hospital. The man and one of the women were seen in online videos clutching bloodstained cloths to their heads.

Members of the public told CNA that the two women are sisters and they own Royal Regent, a shop that sells sundries and mobile phone accessories. They own another handphone shop at Loyang Point, said the interviewees, who did not wish to be named.

CNA understands that the alleged attacker owns a mobile phone shop beside the sisters’ at Loyang Point. The shop believed to be run by Loh was closed when CNA visited on Thursday.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Loh had allegedly armed himself with a chopper and attacked the three victims, the police said.

“The parties involved were known to each other and not on friendly terms. The chopper was seized as a case exhibit,” the police added.