Vanessa Wang Zi Qi, a 47-year-old Singaporean listed as male in charge sheets, faces four charges related to causing annoyance and a separate charge for an incident involving physical harm.
He was back in court on Thursday (4 January) for his hearing as he faced 4 charges, with his lawyer Mr Jared Lee indicating that Wang would be pleading guilty, according to Channel NewsAsia.
He is set to plead guilty to his offences in court on Friday.
The Repeated Offenses
The court heard that Wang, on multiple occasions in November and December, attempted to pull open train doors at Braddell, Ang Mo Kio, and Yio Chu Kang MRT stations. These incidents not only disrupted the smooth operation of the train services but also caused annoyance to fellow commuters.
Adding to the severity of the case, Wang is also accused of kicking a man’s leg at Ang Mo Kio MRT station. This additional charge highlights the potential danger and aggression associated with Wang’s actions.
If convicted of public nuisance, Wang could face imprisonment for up to three months, a fine of up to S$2,000 (US$1,500), or both. The charge of voluntarily causing hurt carries even more severe penalties, including a jail term of up to three years, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.
Previously Faced New Charge of Public Nuisance
In a recent court appearance via video link, Vanessa Wang Zi Qi, the individual captured in the viral video attempting to pry open the doors of a moving MRT train, faced a new charge for being a public nuisance, according to a report by TODAY.
This development took place on Friday, Dec 29, with Wang having been offered bail at S$10,000 on Dec 21, which he was unable to secure due to the lack of a suitable bailor.
The Charges
Wang, aged 47, who was identified as a male in the charge sheets, now faces additional legal troubles with the new charge stemming from an incident at Yio Chu Kang station on Dec 1, 2023. This adds to his existing charges of two counts of public nuisance and one count of voluntarily causing hurt. The former charges relate to his attempts to pull open MRT doors at Braddell and Ang Mo Kio stations, while the latter involves an alleged act of violence at Ang Mo Kio MRT station.
Court Appearance and Bail Issues
During the court hearing, the prosecution expressed readiness to proceed with Wang’s case, intending to pursue three charges and consider one. However, the defense, represented by Jared Lee, sought an adjournment until Feb 1 or 2, citing the need for time to take instructions from Wang and make representations. This request was contested by the prosecution, arguing for a shorter time frame, considering the 23 days Wang spent in remand.
Recap
Videos circulating online depict a passenger attempting to pry open the sliding doors of a moving train on the North-South Line. Fellow commuters can be heard yelling at the person to cease the dangerous act. According to an eyewitness, the attempt briefly succeeded in opening one door before the intervention of other commuters prevented further actions.
SMRT president Lam Sheau Kai addressed the incident, noting that SMRT staff were alerted on Nov 29. However, the passenger reportedly turned uncooperative and aggressive when staff entered the train to investigate.
Photographs shared online reveal the aftermath of the incident, with the passenger lying in a foetal position on the platform of Ang Mo Kio station, surrounded by TransCom officers and station staff.