Singapore priest’s attacker faces additional charges

Mar 19, 2025

A Singaporean man accused of stabbing a Catholic priest inside a Church last November now faces additional criminal charges, says a report.

Basnayake Keith Spencer, 37, charged with attacking Father Christopher Lee at St. Joseph’s Church in Upper Bukit Timah Roach on Nov. 9, 2024, was handed down additional charges on March 17 by the prosecution, The Straits Times reported.

He now faces three counts criminal offense including possession of a weapon and use of a knife to voluntarily cause grievous hurt.

He allegedly had a 14.5cm penknife, a flip knife and a fishing gaff, which is a pole with a sharp hook, at the place of worship, the report said.

Spencer was not granted bail on March 17 and his pretrial conference is scheduled to be held on April 14.

He was charged with attacking the priest when he was conducting communion, leaving him with an 8cm laceration on his tongue, a 3cm cut on his upper left lip and a 4cm cut on the corner of his mouth, the report said.

In an earlier statement, the police said they did not suspect the incident to be an act of terrorism and added that there was no evidence to suggest it was a religiously motivated attack.

However, he was described by the prosecution as a “highly dangerous” person with a high risk of reoffending.

Lee was released from the hospital following treatment on Nov. 15, 2024.

For voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a weapon, an offender can be sentenced to life imprisonment, or face up to 15 years’ jail, fined and caned under Singapore’s Penal Code.

For each count of being in possession of a weapon, an offender can be jailed for up to three years and receive at least six strokes of the cane.

Singapore, a tiny city-state, is known for its multireligious and multicultural society and harmony.

However, the nation remains vulnerable to terrorism and other crimes due to its proximity to Muslim-majority Southeast Asian nations including Malaysia and Indonesia as well as Muslim-dominant regions of the Philippines where religious extremist outfits have a strong presence.

Singapore has a comprehensive counter terrorism strategy that includes vigilant security measures, regional and international law enforcement cooperation, efforts to counter radicalization to violence, and a campaign to prepare the populace for possible attacks, says the US State Department 2023 annual report.--ucanews.com