An Indonesian teenager, now aged 19, recently pled guilty to a series of charges on 23 October, including assault and being a member of an unlawful assembly, according to The Straits Times.
The youth, whose identity remains concealed due to a legal gag order, was supposed to plead guilty in December 2022 for offenses, including committing mischief.
However, back in March, he fled and became involved in a violent knife attack at Rest Bugis Hotel.
A History of Offenses
The teenager’s legal troubles began back in November 2019 when he was convicted of several offenses, including dishonest misappropriation of property.
As a consequence, he was ordered to undergo reformative training, aimed at rehabilitating young offenders.
After completing the program, he was released but required to wear an electronic tagging (e-tagging) device to monitor his whereabouts.
However, in July 2021, instead of abiding by the law, he armed himself with a metal rod and, in engaged in a confrontation with a group of teenagers over a dispute involving vaporizer pods, at Toa Payoh at about 2pm in the afternoon.
Escalating Incidents
On the same night as the confrontation, the Indonesian teenager took a drastic step. He cut off the strap of his e-tagging device, effectively evading authorities’ surveillance.
This act led to his arrest on July 26, 2021. He was expected to plead guilty in court on December 14, 2022, but he jumped bail, resulting in a warrant for his arrest.
The situation escalated on the night of March 27, 2023, when an incident occurred at the Rest Bugis Hotel.
Norliana Hazuliana, a friend of the teenager, was involved in a dispute with a 20-year-old man, who insulted her and criticized her relationship due to her boyfriend’s incarceration.
This incident prompted Norliana to invite the Indonesian youth and another individual, Mohammad Ghufran Sinarfadhli, to the hotel room.
The Violent Confrontation
Despite not having a motorcycle license, the Indonesian teenager, armed with two serrated knives, rode a motorcycle to the hotel in the Kallang area, with Ghufran riding pillion.
Upon their arrival at Rest Bugis Hotel, they were taken to the room by Norliana, where they confronted a 19-year-old woman.
The Indonesian youth slashed the woman twice with a knife before Norliana intervened. The violence didn’t stop there, as they proceeded to attack the 20-year-old man before fleeing the scene.
The consequences of this violent encounter were severe, with the female victim sustaining two large wounds, and the male victim left with multiple slash wounds, including injuries to his head and arms.
He was later taken to the hospital and diagnosed with injuries that may result in permanent disabilities.
The Aftermath
Following the attack, the Indonesian teenager was spotted by police officers running away from the scene, eventually dropping a karambit knife. He was arrested after a half-hour chase, with Ghufran’s arrest following the next day.
The recent court hearing has called for a report to assess the Indonesian teenager’s suitability for another round of reformative training, with his case adjourned to November.