SINGAPORE: A 37-year-old man was charged in court on Monday (Nov 11) with A stabbing incident at a Catholic church. which shocked the entire country and brought together religious groups in solidarity against violence.

Keith Spencera Singaporean, was charged with voluntarily causing serious injury with a dangerous weapon to Father Christopher Lee Kwong Heng.

Spencer is accused of using a folding knife to stab Father Lee in the mouth at about 6.30pm on November 9 at St Joseph’s Church in Upper Bukit Timah.

The charge claims the action caused an 8cm long laceration to Father Lee’s tongue, a 3cm cut to his upper lip and a 4cm cut to the corner of his mouth.

The stabbing endangered Father Lee’s life, according to the prosecution.

Spencer was unrepresented and appeared in court via video link from his remand location, wearing a white polo shirt and with his hands cuffed.

He kept his shoulders rigid and responded with a single word to the court’s questions.

The police prosecutor requested that Spencer be remanded in custody for three weeks for a psychiatric evaluation.

The judge accepted the request and set a new mention of the case for December 2.

Father Lee, pastor of the church, underwent surgery to close his wounds and was He was reported to be in stable condition and recovering. in the hospital a day after the incident.

The alleged attack took place during communion at the parish’s monthly children’s mass, where children take on tasks normally performed by adults, such as singing in the choir.

Members of the congregation, including the Archdiocese Emergency Response team, helped subdue Spencer, who was allegedly wielding a folding knife.

Four other weapons A knife and mallet were later found on Spencer, who is not a regular customer of the church.

According to Home Secretary K Shanmugam, Spencer is a Sinhalese from Singapore and had previously declared to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority that he is a Christian.

Preliminary investigations indicate that he acted alone and that the police do not suspect at this time that it was an act of terrorism.

A person convicted of voluntarily causing serious injury with a dangerous weapon can be sentenced to life in prison.

Otherwise, he faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine and caning.