Married Indian-origin man jailed in Singapore for beating girlfriend to death

NEW DELHI: M Krishnan, a 40-year-old Indian-origin married man, was sentenced to 20 years in jail on Monday for culpable homicide not amounting to murder of his girlfriend, Mallika Begum Rahamansa Abdul Rahman, 40. Krishnan punched and kicked Mallika, who died on January 17, 2019, due to her relationship with other men. Last week, Krishnan admitted guilt in Singapore's high court, as reported by "TODAY" newspaper on Monday.
Justice Valerie Thean noted that Krishnan had promised to reform in 2018 during his mitigation for another offence of abusing police officers, but continued to abuse his wife and girlfriend.She also acknowledged that while Krishnan's intermittent explosive disorder contributed to his violent actions, alcohol had also influenced his behavior. Despite being diagnosed with the disorder after the offence, "the accused knew he was susceptible to showing his temper in socially unacceptable ways" through his past brushes with the law.
In 2015, Krishnan started an extramarital affair with Mallika, who had two daughters from her previous marriages, Singapore law watch reported.
In November that year, Krishnan’s wife returned home to see him and Mallika drinking alcohol in the master bedroom. Upset, she cursed at Krishnan, who responded by striking her in the face and reaching for a whisky bottle. Fearing he might throw it at her, she apologized and subsequently sought a personal police protection order for herself. She is still married to him, Singapore law watch reported.
Krishnan and Mallika stayed together until her death. Court records show Krishnan hit Mallika once "over a trivial matter" in 2017.
The abuse intensified at the start of 2019 after Mallika admitted to having sexual relations with several men, including when Krishnan was in jail in 2018. On January 15, 2019, Krishnan assaulted Mallika after she confessed to cheating while they were drinking alcohol in their shared apartment. The next day, Mallika sought medical treatment at a hospital and was found with several bruises and abrasions.
On the night of January 16, 2019, Krishnan, feeling angry and frustrated over Mallika's various affairs, assaulted her again. He slapped her face, grabbed her by her hair, and punched and kicked her. After realizing that she was not responsive or breathing, he called the Singapore civil defence force, but Mallika was pronounced dead later by the responders. An autopsy found that she had died from a head injury, with several bruises and fractured ribs.
During sentencing, deputy public prosecutor Timotheus Koh sought a sentence of 15 to 18 years in jail, urging the court to "send a clear message that the courts do not tolerate violence of this nature". Krishnan's lawyer argued that his client had pleaded guilty early, surrendered to police, and fully cooperated during investigations. He also mentioned that Krishnan had been controlling his alcohol intake and that Mallika's relationships with other men had affected his judgment.
(With inputs from agencies)