In November, a 37-year-old man was charged in court over a stabbing incident at St Joseph’s Church.
The alleged attack took place during communion at the parish’s monthly children’s mass, where children take on duties that adults usually undertake, such as singing in the choir.
Members of the congregation, including the Archdiocesan Emergency Response team, helped subdue Basnayake Keith Spencer, who was allegedly wielding a foldable knife.
The Singaporean was handed one count of voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapon to Father Christopher Lee Kwong Heng.
He is accused of using a foldable knife to stab Fr Lee in the mouth at about 6.30pm on Nov 9 at St Joseph’s Church.
The charge stated that the action caused an 8cm-long laceration on Fr Lee’s tongue, a 3cm cut on his upper lip and a 4cm cut on the corner of his mouth, endangering his life.
Fr Lee, who is the parish priest of the church, underwent surgery to close his wounds and was reported to be in stable condition and recovering in hospital a day after the incident.
Four other weapons including a penknife and a mallet were later found on Spencer, who is not a regular at the church.
