Horrific Beach Road Attack: Singapore Man Sentenced for Brutal Assault on Wife

In a case that has shocked Singapore with its sheer brutality, a 49-year-old man has been sentenced to 19 years in prison and eight strokes of the cane for the attempted murder of his wife in a vicious public attack on Beach Road. The sentencing, delivered on June 3, 2025, follows a horrifying incident in April 2022 that left the victim, Ms. Han Hongli, with life-altering injuries, including near-severed limbs, permanent disfigurement, and blindness in one eye. The case has reignited discussions about domestic violence and public safety in the city-state.

A Brutal Assault in Broad Daylight

The attack occurred on April 14, 2022, at around 5:30 p.m., in the back lane between Liang Seah Street and Middle Road, a bustling area lined with restaurants. Cheng Guoyuan, a Chinese national who had recently arrived in Singapore to work as a kitchen assistant, confronted his 44-year-old wife, Ms. Han Hongli, who was employed as a manager at a nearby steamboat restaurant. Armed with a wooden-handled cleaver taken from his workplace, Cheng launched a relentless assault on Ms. Han, driven by personal grievances and fear that she would expose undisclosed wrongdoing he had committed against their daughter from her previous marriage.

Ms. Han sustained catastrophic injuries during the attack. Her left hand was nearly severed as she attempted to shield herself from the blows, and she now suffers from blindness in her left eye. Her face has been permanently disfigured, the functioning of her arms severely impaired, and the tip of her right ring finger had to be amputated. The brutality of the assault was compounded by Cheng’s persistence—after the blade of his first cleaver broke off from the handle, he pressed it against her neck while she lay defenseless on the ground. When Ms. Han managed to escape momentarily, Cheng pursued her with a second cleaver, continuing the attack even after she tripped and fell near a parked car.

Passersby attempted to intervene, shouting at Cheng and throwing objects to deter him, but he remained undeterred until police arrived. In a chaotic turn, Cheng also inflicted wounds on himself, cutting his wrists and neck during the frenzy. He was eventually subdued by a police officer who used a taser at Ms. Han’s workplace after Cheng ignored repeated orders to surrender.

Courtroom Revelations and Sentencing

On May 20, 2025, Cheng pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted murder, admitting that his intent was to kill Ms. Han if she refused to assure him that she would not reveal his past actions against their 23-year-old daughter. While the specific nature of the wrongdoing was not disclosed in court, it was revealed that the couple’s relationship had been strained since Ms. Han discovered the incident in April 2021. She had threatened to report the matter to authorities in China, though Cheng pleaded with her to refrain. A compensation payment of 40,000 yuan (approximately US$5,600 as of June 2025) was agreed upon for their daughter, but Cheng remained fearful that Ms. Han would inform his relatives and friends, prompting his violent plan.

During sentencing, Justice Audrey Lim described the attack as “vicious and cruel,” highlighting the relentlessness of Cheng’s actions as an aggravating factor. She noted that even after the initial weapon broke, Cheng sought another cleaver to continue his assault, undeterred by public intervention. However, the judge rejected the prosecution’s request for life imprisonment, despite their argument that the public disquiet caused by the widely reported incident warranted a harsher penalty. The prosecution had sought life imprisonment with eight to 12 strokes of the cane, while the defense requested a 15-year sentence with five strokes. Justice Lim ultimately settled on 19 years and eight strokes, acknowledging the heightened public concern but emphasizing that the severity of an offense should not be judged solely by media coverage.

Videos of the attack circulated widely on social media and messaging platforms in 2022, amplifying public outrage and concern over safety in public spaces. Justice Lim, however, cautioned against equating widespread reporting with the inherent harm of the crime itself, a nuanced stance that reflects Singapore’s judicial emphasis on proportionality.

Personal Tragedy and Broader Implications

Behind the courtroom proceedings lies a deeply personal tragedy. Ms. Han, who moved to Singapore in 2016 to work, faced not only physical devastation but also the emotional toll of betrayal by someone close to her. Her relationship with Cheng had been deteriorating for years, culminating in the discovery of his actions against their daughter—a revelation that shattered any remaining trust. Despite her threats to expose him, Ms. Han initially relented after the compensation agreement, yet Cheng’s paranoia and anger persisted, leading to the premeditated attack. He arrived in Singapore just days before the incident, on April 6, 2022, without informing Ms. Han, and formulated his plan after two failed attempts to confront her on April 12.

The case has sparked broader conversations about domestic violence in Singapore, a society often perceived as safe and orderly. While the city-state boasts low crime rates, incidents like these expose vulnerabilities in personal and public safety, particularly for migrant workers like Ms. Han and Cheng, who may face additional stressors such as cultural dislocation and financial pressures. Advocacy groups have called for enhanced support systems for victims of domestic violence, including accessible counseling and legal aid, especially for non-citizens who may lack local networks.

Furthermore, the public nature of the attack—occurring in a busy commercial area during peak hours—has raised questions about bystander intervention and emergency response. While individuals attempted to stop Cheng by throwing objects, the incident unfolded rapidly, leaving little time for effective action until police arrived. Some community leaders have since advocated for public education on de-escalation techniques and quicker access to emergency services in densely populated areas.

Legal and Cultural Context

Singapore’s legal system, known for its strict penalties, often incorporates corporal punishment like caning for severe offenses, as seen in Cheng’s sentencing. This reflects the state’s zero-tolerance approach to violent crime, particularly in cases that threaten public order. Attempted murder carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and while Cheng did not receive the full extent of the law, the 19-year term and caning underscore the gravity with which the court viewed his actions. For global readers, it’s worth noting that caning, a form of judicial corporal punishment, is a longstanding practice in Singapore, often applied in tandem with imprisonment for offenses ranging from vandalism to violent crimes.

Culturally, the case also touches on the challenges faced by migrant workers from China and other regions in Singapore, where integration and interpersonal conflicts can be exacerbated by language barriers and isolation. Both Cheng and Ms. Han are Chinese nationals, and their personal disputes appear to have roots in events that transpired before their time in Singapore. This highlights the need for culturally sensitive support mechanisms to address underlying tensions that may lead to such extreme outcomes.

Looking Ahead

As Ms. Han embarks on a long road to physical and emotional recovery, her story serves as a stark reminder of the hidden struggles that can erupt into public tragedy. Questions linger about how Singapore can better protect vulnerable individuals, whether through stronger domestic violence prevention programs or more robust community safety measures. For now, the Beach Road attack remains a haunting chapter in the city’s narrative, one that compels both reflection and action to ensure such horrors are not repeated.