A 55-year-old British man, Jonathan Neal, was charged in court earlier today (7 September) for allegedly falsely triggering the fire alarms at Duo Residences, along Fraser Street.
This incident occurred following a dispute with the security officers, all while Neal was under the influence of alcohol.
The Drunken Altercation
At approximately 1 a.m. on July 13, 2023, authorities received a distress call concerning a drunken man causing a commotion at the hotel and residential mixed development located along Fraser Street.
Upon arriving at the scene, preliminary investigations by SPF revealed that Jonathan Neal had engaged in a heated dispute with the security officers stationed at the apartment complex.
This altercation took an alarming turn when Neal allegedly damaged the fire alarm activation panels, inadvertently triggering the fire alarm system.
The repercussions of Neal’s actions were immediate and far-reaching. The false fire alarm resulted in the evacuation of at least 50 hotel guests from Duo Residences.
Panic and confusion gripped the premises as guests and residents hurriedly left the building, unaware that the fire alarm had been falsely triggered.
Jonathan Neal has since sought legal representation and is scheduled to appear in court on October 4.
The Legal Consequences
Jonathan Neal’s actions on that night have not gone without consequences. According to court records, Neal was in Singapore on an employment pass at the time of the incident.
The alleged offenses occurred between 12:56 a.m. and 1:06 a.m. at Duo Residences, 1 Fraser Street, on July 13.
Neal is being charged for allegedly breaking the glass of the emergency door release button on the 2nd floor; denting the activation button of the fire alarm manual call point on the 2nd floor and basement lift lobbies; giving a false alarm to the SCDF by pressing the fire alarm manual call point at the 2nd floor and basement lift lobbies.
Singapore Police Force statement
MAN TO BE CHARGED FOR MISCHIEF AND CAUSING FALSE ALARM OF FIRE
The Police will be charging a 55-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a case of mischief and causing false alarm of fire.
On 13 July 2023 at about 1am, the Police were alerted to a case of a drunken man allegedly causing trouble at a hotel and residential apartment along Fraser Street.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the man was believed to have been involved in a dispute with the security officers of the apartment, and had allegedly damaged the fire alarm activation panels which triggered the fire alarm. As a result, at least 50 hotel guests were evacuated from their rooms and inconvenienced by the false alarm of fire. The man was subsequently arrested at scene for his actions.
The man will be charged in court on 7 September 2023 with the offences of mischief and causing false alarm of fire. Anyone found guilty of the offence of committing mischief under Section 426 of the Penal Code 1871 will be liable for an imprisonment term of up to two years, a fine, or both. Anyone found guilty of the offence of causing false alarm of fire under Section 25(1) of the Fire Safety Act 1993 will be liable for an imprisonment term of up to three months, a fine not exceeding $5,000, or both.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
06 September 2023 @ 6:45 PM