PETALING JAYA: The man who stabbed a priest at the St Josephs Church in Singapore yesterday has been identified and was reportedly convicted of stabbing his ex-girlfriend five years ago.
The Straits Times (ST) identified the suspect as Basnayake Keith Spencer, a 37-year-old Singaporean Sinhalese man.
The attacker was identified after a viral video showed a lean, bald man in a bloodied white T-shirt being led away from the church by the police.
According to ST, Basnayake was convicted and jailed in 2019 for causing hurt with a dangerous weapon, having pleaded guilty to stabbing his former girlfriend at a party while he was on drugs.
Yesterday, Father Christopher Lee, the parish priest of St Josephs Church, was stabbed during a special morning mass for children.
The attacker was disarmed by members of the congregation and subsequently arrested by the police.
Based on preliminary investigations, police believe the suspect acted alone and that the attack was not an act of terrorism nor was it religiously motivated.
Lee is being treated at the National University Hospital and is in a stable condition.
Meanwhile, police said the suspect will be charged in court tomorrow with the offence of voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon.
According to ST, if convicted, the suspect faces life imprisonment, or a jail term which may extend to 15 years. He shall also be liable to caning or a fine, or both.
Police said they will also be seeking a court order to remand the man at the Institute of Mental Health for psychiatric evaluation.