In Singapore, we always talk about filial piety. We buy our parents coffee, we take them out for Sunday dim sum, and we try not to give them heart attacks. But then you have stories that take “unfilial” to an absolute, unbelievable level.

Enter 35-year-old Teo Yao Zhong, a man who went full-on beast mode on his 72-year-old father—all because the old man rented out a room in their flat and dared to keep the rental income for himself!

The Remote Control & WWE Stomp Saga

Instead of getting a job like a normal adult, Teo threw a violent tantrum inside the flat, hurling household items everywhere. When his father tried to stop the destruction, Teo grabbed a heavy TV remote control and used it like a hammer to whack his dad’s head repeatedly.

As the poor elderly man tripped over the clutter and fell, Teo—acting like a low-budget wrestling villain—straight-up stomped on his father’s chest. The brutal attack fractured the old man’s ribs and left him bleeding from a scalp wound. The father managed to crawl out of the flat and down to the void deck to call the police. When the officers arrived, Teo was still raging—throwing furniture and even a whole television set right out the door at the cops!

The Ultimate Court Delay Tactic: “Judge, My Room Very Messy”

While the assault was horrific, the courtroom drama that followed reached peak absurdity. Facing sentencing, Teo actually had the cheek to ask the judge for a postponement. His airtight legal justification? He needed to go home and clean his messy room first.

When the unimpressed judge asked why on earth he hadn’t cleaned it earlier, Teo casually offered the ultimate slacker defense:

“I started already, but it’s too messy so I couldn’t finish.”

Unsurprisingly, the court was not interested in his spring-cleaning schedule. He also claimed he “couldn’t really recall what happened that day,” but the judge remembered plenty and slapped him with a 21-month jail sentence on the spot. Now, Teo has nearly two years in Changi Prison to reflect on his actions—and keep his new cell sparkling clean.

When “Father-Son Bonding” Turns Into Financial Crime

If you think physical violence over rental income is an anomaly, Singapore has seen a bizarre surge of sons targeting their own fathers through scams, fraud, and outright extortion. Apparently, “raising a child to rely on in old age” doesn’t always go according to plan.

1. The Fake Kidnapping Scam Against Own Dad

In a legendary case of financial desperation, a young man who accrued massive gambling debts decided the best way out was to scam his own father. He staged his own “kidnapping,” sending frantic messages and photos to his dad claiming he was being held hostage across the border by ruthless syndicate bookies who would harm him unless a massive ransom was paid. His terrified father almost transferred his life savings before police stepped in, uncovered the bluff, and arrested the son for criminal extortion.

2. The Identity Theft & Credit Card Binge

Another shocking case involved a son who secretly stole his elderly father’s Singpass credentials, NRIC, and personal banking details. Using his dad’s identity, he applied for multiple high-interest personal loans, opened digital credit lines, and racked up tens of thousands of dollars in debt buying luxury items and funding his lifestyle. The victim only found out when debt collectors started showing up at the family doorstep, leaving the father heartbroken and facing financial ruin.

3. The Forged Property Title Transfer

In one of the most high-stakes family betrayals, a son attempted to trick his aging parent into signing legal documents under the guise of “updating CPF nomination details.” In reality, the paperwork was meant to transfer ownership of the family HDB flat directly into the son’s name so he could pledge it for bank loans. Thankfully, an alert conveyancing lawyer caught the discrepancies during the verification process before the old man lost his home.

The Moral of the Story

From fake kidnappings to Taobao-level scams and room-cleaning excuses in court, it seems some adult children think their parents are personal ATMs and punching bags combined.

Parenting is tough, but as these court cases prove: if your adult child refuses to work, demands a cut of your rental income, and says their room is “too messy” to face justice, it might be time to change the door locks!