Cheng Guoyuan pleads guilty to vicious 2022 assault on wife; sentencing to be delivered June 3
In a harrowing case that shocked Singapore, 49-year-old Cheng Guoyuan has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of his wife, Han Hongli, in a brutal public cleaver attack outside a Beach Road restaurant in 2022. The court will announce his sentence on June 3.
A Marriage Turned Deadly
Cheng Guoyuan and Han Hongli, both Chinese nationals, were married in 2009. Han, who has a daughter from a previous marriage, moved to Singapore in 2016 to work and regularly sent money to Cheng. Their relationship deteriorated after Han discovered in 2021 that Cheng had committed an undisclosed wrongdoing against her daughter. Cheng feared exposure and pleaded for her silence, offering to compensate her daughter with 40,000 yuan.
Despite the settlement, trust eroded. Financial difficulties and a growing sense of betrayal led Cheng to obsessively contact Han. When she refused to reconcile, he made repeated threats and harassing calls, prompting her to file a police report. Cheng returned to China but later re-entered Singapore under the radar in April 2022, taking a job at a steamboat restaurant—steps away from Han’s workplace.
On April 14, 2022, Cheng executed a plan he had been crafting for days. Armed with a cleaver, he confronted Han behind her restaurant, under the pretext of discussing divorce. When she spotted the weapon, she hesitated to flee for fear of escalating his anger. During a heated confrontation, Cheng suddenly attacked.
He slashed Han repeatedly, ignoring her cries for mercy and bystanders’ pleas to stop. As she screamed and tried to protect herself, Cheng severed her hand and inflicted deep wounds. When the cleaver’s handle broke, he pressed the blade against her neck multiple times and kicked her while she was down.
Chaos in Public View
The attack, which occurred around 5:30pm, was witnessed by several civilians who bravely attempted to intervene. Video footage—later shown in court—captured bystanders hurling plastic chairs, signposts, and even metal ladders at Cheng to fend him off. Despite their efforts, Cheng continued until Han managed to escape into a nearby hotel.
Cheng was eventually subdued by police with a taser inside Chong Qing (Origin) Steamboat. He also injured himself during the attack and had to be treated.
Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
The attack left Han blind in her left eye, with permanent facial disfigurement and reduced arm function. Cheng, now in custody, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and will also have two charges of criminal intimidation considered during sentencing. He told the court, “I am very remorseful,” through a Mandarin interpreter.
The prosecution has called for life imprisonment and 8 to 12 strokes of the cane, citing extreme violence and high culpability. His defense counsel, however, requested a 15-year jail term and five strokes, arguing that public outrage should not overly influence sentencing severity.
Courtroom Breakdown and Viral Impact
The emotional weight of the court proceedings was palpable. During the video screening, Cheng wept, covered his face, and retched audibly, prompting a 10-minute recess. Justice Audrey Lim acknowledged the role of social media in amplifying public outrage but emphasized judicial impartiality.
The attack, which went viral in 2022, had galvanized the public, with nine men commended for bravery during the assault. Their quick action may have saved Han’s life.
The Beach Road cleaver attack has raised urgent conversations in Singapore about domestic violence, mental health, and legal accountability. As the nation awaits sentencing, the case underscores the need for swift protection for victims and firm consequences for offenders. For both Singaporean and Southeast Asian audiences, it also reflects how social media can powerfully magnify public response to violence and injustice.
Sources: Asia One (2025) , CNA (2025)
Keywords: Cheng Guoyuan, Beach Road Attack, Attempted Murder Case, Han Hongli, Cleaver Assault, Singapore Court
