SINGAPORE: London’s Metropolitan Police on Wednesday (Mar 4) released images of four men in connection to an incident where a Singaporean student was assaulted after he reacted to passers-by making comments about his race and COVID-19. 

“Police investigating a racially aggravated assault have released images of four men they wish to speak to in connection with the incident,” said the Metropolitan Police in a press release.

“The 23-year-old victim was punched, kicked, and sustained facial injuries,” the police added.

READ: Singaporean student in London says he was assaulted after reacting to COVID-19 comments

Police officers were called at about 9.15pm local time on Feb 24 to Oxford Street to reports of a man being assaulted. 

Detective Sergeant Emma Kirby, who is the officer in charge of the case, said the attack left the victim “shaken and hurt”. 

“There’s no room on our streets for this kind of violent behaviour and we are committed to finding the perpetrators,” she said. 

“I am keen to speak to anyone who has information about this assault. I would like to identify and speak to the four men pictured who may be able to help me with our enquiries.”

No arrests have been made, and police have asked witnesses to come forward.

“DON’T YOU DARE LOOK AT ME, YOU…” 

Singaporean student Jonathan Mok said he was walking along the street on Feb 24 when he heard a racist comment and the word “coronavirus” from some youths. 

Mr Mok then turned to look at them, because he did not want them to think he was afraid and that “Asians are easily bullied”, he said.

“I felt really angry … it is ridiculous people are being targeted for being Asian,” he told CNA on Tuesday. 

After he looked at them, Mr Mok said one of the youths shouted: “Don’t you dare look at me, you …”. He did not catch the last word because of the man’s accent. 

The group then approached him, Mr Mok said, adding that they “seemed no older than 20 years old, but were all more than a head taller than me”. 

Suddenly, he was punched in the face twice, he said, and another attacker attempted to kick him as he tried to explain what was happening to another passer-by. 

The man who tried to kick him then said: “I don’t want your coronavirus in my country,” before punching him again, said Mr Mok. His nose started bleeding and blood was splattered all across the pavement, he added. 

The group left the scene before the police arrived. 

Mr Mok has lived in London for two years while studying at University College London (UCL), but travels back to Singapore during his summer holidays. 

On Wednesday, the Singapore High Commission said it was in contact with London police “at the highest level” to ensure that investigations into the incident are followed through.

It is also in touch with the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office as well as the Home Office “given the broader implications with our large student and Singaporean community” in the country, the high commission said.

“The Singapore High Commission is deeply disturbed by this incident, although we do not believe that the assault reflects the majority view of the British people in particular towards Singapore, given the close and special relationship between the UK and Singapore,” it said in a Facebook post.

“There are unfortunately always abhorrent elements in every society, especially in such uncertain and anxious times.”

SINGAPORE: Nearly 1,400 cartons of contraband cigarettes were found hidden in a Malaysia-registered bus at Tuas Checkpoint last week, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority said on Wednesday (Mar 4).

Anomalies were detected in the scanned images of the bus on Feb 28, and the vehicle was directed for further checks, ICA said in a Facebook post.

During the search, ICA officers found 1,376 cartons and 740 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in the overhead compartments of the bus. The cigarettes were covered with black plastic bags.

A 26-year-old Malaysian man has been referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation, said ICA.

“This method of concealment is a cause for concern as similar methods may be used by people with ill intent to smuggle security items into Singapore,” ICA said.

The bus is liable to be forfeited.

Known as Bas Pekerja, the bus is typically used to transport workers from Johor Bahru to Singapore. 

SINGAPORE: A teenager suspected to be linked to a riot in Choa Chu Kang last week was charged on Wednesday (Mar 4) with possessing dangerous weapons.

Mohammad Helmi Parmadi, 17, is accused of possessing a watermelon knife, a bread knife and a sickle along the common corridor in front of Block 703 West Coast Road on Mar 2.

Helmi was remanded for investigations and will return to court on Friday. If convicted, he faces a maximum jail term of three years and at least six strokes of the cane.

He is suspected to be linked to a 13-man riot that took place at Block 102 Teck Whye Lane in broad daylight on Feb 27.

Weapons including a knife, knuckle dusters, a metal bar and a metal rod that were believed to have been used in the fight were seized by the police.

13 MEN CHARGED 

The police said last week that they were alerted to a case of rioting at 10 Choa Chu Kang Way at about 1.30pm on Feb 27.  The 13 men, aged between 17 and 28, were arrested in various locations including Jalan Bukit Merah, Yishun and Bukit Batok. 

They were charged on Feb 29 either with rioting with a deadly weapon or unlawful assembly armed with a deadly weapon.

According to charge sheets, the riot was between two groups, with a group of eight men wanting to hurt the second group of five men and vice versa.

Those in the first group are: Zahiruddin Ariffin Zilsham, 17; Mohammad Danial Bin Mohammed Fairuz, 17; Nurhendry Alffi Farasyi Bin Maizuhar, 17; 18-year-old Ryan Sim Ming Hui; Muhammad Luqmanul Hakim Bin Muhiddin, 29; Ahmad Sirhan Bin Ahmad Zaidi, 17; Daryl Lee Zhi Heng, 18; and Syafiq Bin Safari, 18.

Danial was allegedly armed with a knife, while Nurhendry purportedly had a knuckle-duster.

The men in the other group listed in charge sheets are: Farhan Bin Alias, 18; 20-year-old Muhammad Irman Shah Putera Roslan; Asyraniel Hiralnyshah Jarkalishah, 17; Mohamed Danish Amsyar Ali Amran, 19; and Mohamad Haikel Rahmat, 18. 

Several of them were allegedly armed with parangs. 

FIVE MEN TAKEN BACK TO SCENE OF THE CRIME

Five men were taken back to the scene of the alleged crimes on Wednesday morning for police investigations.

Charge sheets state that others yet unknown might be involved in the riot as well.

If convicted of rioting with a deadly weapon, they could be jailed for up to 10 years and caned. The penalty for unlawful assembly while armed with a deadly weapon is up to five years’ jail, a fine, caning, or any combination of these.