File photo of burnt vehicles after a riot broke out in Little India in Singapore
Singapore: Fresh charges were today slapped on four Indians, part of 25 alleged rioters who participated in Singapore’s worst outbreak of violence in over 40 years.
Earlier, all 25 Indians faced one rioting charge each, punishable by up to seven years in prison and caning.
But, additional charges were filed against Chinnappa Prabakaran, 23, for instigating a group of Indians to set fire to an ambulance while Bose Prabakar, 29, was accused of assaulting an auxiliary police officer by kicking him.
Moorthy Kabildev, 24, also faced an additional charge of punching a woman coordinator of the bus which ran over 33-year-old Indian pedestrian Sakthivel Kumaravelu.
Arumugam Karthik, 24, now faces two new charges: one of setting fire to a police car with one other person; and another of throwing pieces of concrete and flipping over a police car with some others.
The prosecution is looking to revoke their bail, or increase their bail amount to 40,000-60,000 Singapore dollars, The Straits Times reported.
Since the court offered bail to all 25 accused on Tuesday after submitting sureties of 20,000 Singapore dollars, only two are out on bail, Channel News Asia reported.
Chinnathambi Malesan, 22, was today released on bail besides Arun Kaliamurthy, a 28-year-old tourist in Singapore on a social visit pass.
The court allowed Malesan’s employer to post bail, even though his employer is a Malaysian of Chinese-origin.
Meanwhile, one of the accused, 32-year-old Chinnappa Vijayaragunatha Poopathi, has indicated to the court that he might plead guilty, Channel News Asia reported.
The cases of 24 accused would be mentioned again on January 29 while Kaliamurthy’s case would be heard on December 30.
Fifty-six Indians and a Bangladeshi have been deported from Singapore for alleged involvement in the riot in Little India, a precinct of Indian-origin businesses, eateries and pubs where most South Asian workers take their Sunday break.
The trouble started after a private bus fatally knocked down Kumaravelu in Little India on December 8. Some 400 migrant workers were involved in the rampage that left 39 police and civil defence staff injured and 25 vehicles – including 16 police cars – damaged.
Singapore previously witnessed violence of such scale during race riots in 1969.
Singapore authorities will implement new traffic arrangements in Little India on Sunday to smoothen operations for private bus services plying in the Little India area and “facilitate safe passenger activities along the road”, The Straits Times reported.
Singapore riot: Four Indians face fresh charges
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