Raymond Joshua, 33-years-old, was charged with using insulting words, using criminal force and failing to present himself for a urine test while under a drug supervision order.
He was sentenced to 4 months and 3 weeks jail earlier today (4 June), another 3 charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.
He had reportedly boarded a bus at night last year and repeated said “you China ah?” to a female passenger before spitting at her face.
His crimes
Joshua was given a 2-year drug supervision order from April 2019, but he had reportedly failed to show up for his urine test 42 times.
He explained that he didn’t go for the urine tests because it was “too far” for him.
On 2 July 2020, during the initial Phase 2 period, he boarded bus 109 at night, and he was seen repeatedly shifting around the seats near the victim, a 36-year-old Singaporean woman who was with her mother, and gesturing towards her.
He then told the victim, “You China people bring coronavirus. You China ah? You China ah? Singapore have Indian, Malay and Chinese.”
He then asked her “You China, you can speak English or not.”
At this point, the victim was sitting still and not responding to Joshua, as seen in the CCTV footage.
Joshua then encroached into her personal space, and the victim then pushed him away as he was too close to her.
Joshua then took off his mask and spat at her face.
He was later arrested.
Joshua then admitted to drinking a bottle of liquor at his fiancee’s house before the incident took place.
“Very remorseful”
The prosecutor asked for 4 months and 3 weeks jail, noting that the incident happened during a period when Singapore was still at a heightened level because of the pandemic and many lives were sill affected.
Also, the incident took place on public transport and the accused was drunk.
The fact that he had also failed to attend numerous urine tests was an aggravating factor as well.
Joshua said that he was very “shameful and remorseful” and that he has changed to be a better person.
The judge the rejected his request to defer his sentence, saying that his case has been in the court system since May 2020, and adding that his behavior cannot be tolerated.
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