The man pleaded guilty to one charge of using criminal force. (Photo: Getty Images)

SINGAPORE — A taxi driver repeatedly tried to throw his wife out their ninth-floor kitchen window during a quarrel over money, a community court heard.

But the 48-year-old man’s attempts were foiled by their five year-old-daughter, who appealed to neighbours for help.

At the State Courts on Wednesday (11 December), the perpetrator pleaded guilty to one charge of using criminal force.

He is expected to be sentenced next month.

The couple cannot be named to protect the child’s identity.

Tried to throw wife out kitchen window

At about 8am on 22 May, the Singaporean man and his 29-year-old Vietnamese housewife had a quarrel over money matters, the court heard.

“The accused was unhappy that the victim sent money back to Vietnam instead of saving money to purchase a house in Singapore,” said Deputy Public Prosecutor Joshua Lim.

The man told his wife of six years to “go and die”.

While the wife was brushing her teeth at the sink, the man held her waist with both hands and tried to lift her towards the kitchen window.

The wife lost her balance and fell to the floor near the washing machine. Undeterred, he held on to her calves with both hands and tried to lift her out of the kitchen window again.

“The victim’s lower body, from her hips to her legs, were dangling in the air when the accused was lifting her calves,” said DPP Lim.

But the wife held on to the washing machine door, preventing the man from carrying her to the window.

Daughter sought help from neighbours

Their five-year-old daughter tried to get help from neighbours by shouting, “Help mummy, help mummy” in the direction of the common corridor. She also went to neighbouring units shouting and knocking on doors.

The man released his wife when he heard his daughter shouting.

Three neighbours - a 46-year-old man, a 49-year-old woman and a 74-year-old woman - then came to the unit.

An unknown neighbour also called the police hotline to say, “Husband is trying to throw the wife down. There is a lot of commotion.”

Still, the man persisted. As the wife stood beside the washing machine after the neighbours left, he again tried to lift her out of the window by grabbing her waist.

Their daughter again sought help from their neighbours.

The man eventually let go of his wife when she shouted out his name. The wife then ran out and sought help from neighbours. Police officers arrived shortly after.

DPP Lim said, “During both this and the previous attempt to lift her, no part of her body was outside the window.”

The man is expected to be sentenced on 9 January.

The maximum punishment he faces is up to three months’ jail and a fine of up to $1,500.

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