Jail, cane for four youths involved in Downtown East riot
SINGAPORE: Four more youths who were part
of a group accused of rioting at Downtown East in 2010 were
sentenced to jail and caning on Wednesday.
23-year-old Tang Jia Min received a jail term of six years and
three months, as well as six strokes of the cane. 19-year-old Ho
Wei Quan was sentenced to five years’ jail and six strokes of the
cane. 22-year-old Lewis Wee Jun Jie was sentenced to four years and
10 months’ jail and six strokes of the cane.
20-year-old Chong Rui Hong was given the lightest sentence – of
four years jail and three strokes of the cane.
The district judge described his culpability as “slightly lower”
compared with his fellow accomplices.
The four were members of an unlawful assembly that caused
grievous hurt to 19-year-old Darren Ng Wei Jie at the foyer of
Downtown East on October 30, 2010.
One or more members of the group stabbed and slashed the
Republic Polytechnic student with knives, choppers and a
screwdriver.
Ng, a member of the “Fong Hong San” gang, died of multiple
injuries.
Previously in mitigation, the lawyers of Ho, Wee and Chong
highlighted the relatively minor role their clients played in the
incident. However, the court heard that Tang had played a “very
instrumental part”.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Peggy Pao emphasised that Tang was not
a bystander and was “very much part of the active group that
confronted the victim”. The court also heard that Tang had a string
of previous offences, including snatch theft and mischief.
Six of the 11 accused have been sentenced so far.
Jason Chew Wei Beng, the first of the group to be prosecuted for
rioting, was given four years’ jail and six strokes of the cane,
while 21-year-old Puay De Feng received five years’ jail and six
strokes of the cane.
-CNA/ac