Two Singaporean men have been apprehended by Malaysian auxiliary officers on June 13 for engaging in public urination, as reported by the authorities at Johor Bahru South District Police Headquarters.

According to the police, the incident took place at the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Johor Bahru. Notwithstanding the presence of ample restroom facilities and clear signage directing individuals to them, the two men chose to urinate in a public area.

The individuals involved in this offense are aged 48 and 68 years, respectively. They are not related and committed the transgressions separately but on the same day.

On June 13, the authorities arrested both individuals under Section 14 of Malaysia’s Minor Offences Act 1955 (Revised 1987), which pertains to engaging in behavior considered disrespectful. If found guilty, they may face a fine of S$29.

Following drug tests, it was determined that neither of the men had consumed illicit substances.

The first suspect was formally charged in court on June 14.

As for the second suspect, ongoing investigations will be conducted under Section 6(3) of Malaysia’s Immigration Act 1959/63 due to concerns about their residency status in Malaysia without a valid pass.

Similar cases

Just last month, a Singaporean man was arrested for urinating at the prayer ablution area at the Johor Bahru Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex.

A video of the incident was posted online by a netizen who witnessed the act, and scolded him for being rude because the area where the man was peeing at is meant for Muslims to cleanse themselves before praying.

The incident also caught the attention of Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who revealed that the man had been detained by the Malaysian police following the incident.

The man tested negative for drugs but did have a prior criminal record against his name.

In a recent development, Singapore is set to witness an increased presence of police robots across the nation, following their successful deployment at Changi Airport’s Terminal 4 (T4) in recent months. According to the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the initiative aims to expand the utilization of these robots in various locations.

Since April, two police robots have been stationed at T4, serving as a notable addition to the airport’s security measures. Channel NewsAsia (CNA) reports that members of the public can easily contact the airport police in their operations room by simply pressing a button on the robot.

The upcoming rollout of additional police robots throughout Singapore comes as part of Project MATAR (Multi-purpose All-Terrain Autonomous Robot), which has gained visibility in recent times. These robots are equipped with a 360-degree camera that offers comprehensive surveillance capabilities. Moreover, they feature an extendable mast to provide officers with an enhanced view.

One noteworthy functionality is that these robots allow members of the public to communicate with an officer in the operations room by pressing a designated button. Additionally, the robots are equipped with sirens, speakers, and display screens that enable them to make public announcements and warn individuals to avoid certain areas, particularly in situations involving suspicious or unattended baggage.

Superintendent Lim Ke Wei, the head of operations at the Airport Police Division, emphasized that the patrol robots operate autonomously alongside human officers, serving as an extra set of eyes on the ground. This integration of technology is expected to enhance operational efficiency and enable officers to fulfill their duties more effectively.

It is worth mentioning that the development of the MATAR robots, which commenced as early as 2016, gained significance during the Covid-19 pandemic. The robots have proven to be valuable assets in maintaining security measures and ensuring public safety.

Singapore Police Force’s press release

OPERATIONALISATION OF PATROL ROBOTS AT CHANGI AIRPORT TERMINAL 4

Since April 2023, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) has deployed patrol robots at Changi Airport Terminal 4 to augment frontline Police officers in conducting premises patrol. Besides serving as additional eyes on the ground, they project additional police presence in the airport terminal.

Patrol Robots as Force Multipliers

The patrol robot is the latest addition to SPF’s technological arsenal, capable of autonomous patrol and providing the Police with an enhanced situational picture to enable better decision and sense-making. The robot is also equipped with in-built speakers to broadcast audio messages and display visual information on its display panel.

It can also deploy a suite of interim intervention measures (blinkers, siren, and speakers) to enforce a cordon or warn bystanders during an incident prior to the arrival of resources. Its extendable mast with 360-degree field of view and two-way communications also enables the Airport Police Operations Room to have an unimpeded view of the live situation and direct communication with the public for better incident management.

The integration of robotics enhances the operational efficiency and capabilities of our frontline officers, enabling them to be more effective in their duties. The SPF plans to progressively deploy more patrol robots to augment police’s operations across Singapore.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
15 June 2023 @ 3:16 PM

Images source: Ministry of Home Affairs and Singapore Police Force

In a recent incident in Singapore, a 32-year-old man was sentenced to eight weeks in jail for threatening a delivery rider with a knife, according to Lianhe Zaobao.

The altercation began when the man received a coffee order that had spilled. Instead of handling the situation calmly, he resorted to violence, holding a 20cm knife against the rider’s face and patting his cheek with the knife multiple times.

The man, identified as Firdaus, pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal intimidation. Additionally, the court took into account another charge of using insulting words to cause distress to the victim.

What happened?

The incident occurred on 8th August 2022 at 1:45 am in Block 858 Jurong West Street 81. Firdaus had ordered food and coffee through a delivery application.

When the rider arrived at his unit and left the order at the door, Firdaus called him back. He questioned why his coffee had spilled and accused the rider of attempting to deceive him.

Frustrated, Firdaus threatened the rider, using offensive language and asserting that he would physically harm him.

To pacify the dissatisfied customer, the rider went the extra mile and purchased two additional packets of coffee for Firdaus.

However, upon returning to Firdaus’ unit, the situation escalated further. Firdaus brandished a 20cm knife from the kitchen and continued to berate the rider, even patting the rider’s cheek with the knife.

In a fit of anger, he threw the two packets of coffee onto the ground. Despite the rider’s repeated apologies, Firdaus remained hostile.

The rider, understanding the severity of the situation, lodged a police report after the incident. Firdaus’ actions were captured on tape by his own family, resulting in a one-minute and twelve seconds clip that served as crucial evidence during the court proceedings.

The motive behind Firdaus’ family recording the incident remains unclear.

Hoped for lenient sentence

During the court hearing, the prosecution sought a jail term of one to two months for Firdaus, emphasizing the need to deter similar mistreatment of delivery riders. Surprisingly, Firdaus opted to represent himself in court and pleaded guilty.

Expressing remorse for his actions, he acknowledged that threatening the rider with a knife was unjustifiable and hoped for a lenient sentence.

In delivering the verdict, the judge stated that Firdaus had overreacted and displayed unacceptable behavior. The judge considered the eight-week jail sentence reasonable and conservative enough.

Singapore Police Force arrested a 20-year-old man who had allegedly punched a patrolling police officer in the face when the latter was conducting checks on him and 2 others at Tiong Bahru Road.

The incident took place in the early hours of 15th June 2023 when the police officers were conducting routine patrols along Tiong Bahru Road. The officers noticed three individuals and decided to conduct checks on them. However, one of the men displayed uncooperative behavior, escalating the situation into an act of violence.

As the police officers approached the group for checks, one man became increasingly aggressive and uncooperative.

In a display of complete disregard for the authority of the officers, the man threw a punch at one of the officers’ face, causing a laceration on his left cheek.

The 20-year-old man was then immediately arrested following the alleged assault and will face charges in court on 16th June 2023, specifically for voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty, as defined under Section 332 of the Penal Code 1871.

This offense carries severe penalties, including an imprisonment term of up to seven years, a fine, or caning,

Singapore Police Force’s press release

MAN ARRESTED FOR VOLUNTARILY CAUSING HURT TO DETER A PUBLIC SERVANT FROM THE DISCHARGE OF HIS DUTY

The Police have arrested a 20-year-old man for voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty.

On 15 June 2023 at about 2.35am, the Police were patrolling along Tiong Bahru Road. The officers spotted three men and proceeded to conduct checks on them. During the checks, one of the men was uncooperative and became aggressive.

The man allegedly threw a punch at the officer’s face and the officer sustained a laceration on his left cheek. The man was immediately arrested.

The 20-year-old man will be charged in court on 16 June 2023 with the offence of voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from the discharge of his duty, under Section 332 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to seven years, and a fine, or caning.

The Police have zero tolerance towards such acts of violence towards police officers or public servants who are carrying out their duties. The Police will not hesitate to take firm action against those who endanger the safety of our officers.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
15 June 2023 @ 3:10 PM