SINGAPORE - It didn't matter that his friend was already injured and on a stretcher.

Rajendran Vadivelu, 47, still lashed out at Mr Somu Theviram, 56, punching him twice in the face.

Rajendran, who claimed he was tipsy when it happened, was jailed for five weeks on Thursday (Nov 10) after he pleaded guilty to two charges of causing hurt.

He admitted to another count of using criminal force and the charge was taken into account in sentencing.

On July 30, Rajendran met Mr Somu at the void deck of Block 569A Champions Way before the pair left to have some alcohol.

"At about 1pm, Rajendran was a bit tipsy and started complaining about their housing estate," said Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Selene Yap. Both men are residents of Woodlands.

"At about 4.30pm, Mr Somu told Rajendran he could ask his parents to help him with his problems with the housing estate instead of always asking the government.

"This agitated Rajendran. He threw two punches at Mr Somu's chest and left cheek, causing him to fall to the ground," said DPP Yap.

Later, while a paramedic was attending to Mr Somu at about 5.15pm, Rajendran threw two more punches at his friend while he was still on the stretcher.

It is not known what injuries he sustained. "Mr Somu left the hospital before he could get medical attention and informed that he did not have enough money to pay for the medical bills," said DPP Yap.

In sentencing Rajendran to five weeks' jail, District Judge Low Wee Ping told him: "How cruel. Imagine yourself on the stretcher and Mr Somu punching you two more times."

Rajendran told the court he would like to visit the National Addictions Management Service, located at the Institute of Mental Health, after his release from prison.

He had an earlier run-in with the law when he punched a security guard after an argument on Feb 26 at Nex shopping mall in Serangoon.

Rajendran has previous convictions for criminal intimidation and for breaching personal protection orders.

The maximum punishment for causing hurt is up to two years' jail and a fine of up to $5,000, per charge; and for using criminal force other than on grave and sudden provocation, up to three months' jail and a fine of up to $1,500.