A man accused of verbally abusing and spitting on a police officer responding to a fire in Yishun was still serving a Conditional Remission Order (CRO) when the incident took place, according to court records.
Mohamad Yazid Junaineh, 43, appeared in court after allegedly obstructing police officers who were attending to a fire at Block 381 Yishun Ring Road on 3 July. The incident, which was widely circulated on social media, showed a man arguing with officers and appearing to challenge them while a crowd gathered nearby.
Court documents revealed that Yazid had been released from prison in April 2024 and was placed under a remission order that remains in force until 12 October 2026. Under Singapore’s prison system, inmates who are released early for good behaviour after serving two-thirds of their sentence are subject to strict conditions until the completion of their original sentence.
Anyone placed under a Conditional Remission Order is required to remain offence-free during the remission period. Breaching the order can result in an enhanced sentence, in addition to penalties imposed for any new offences.
Police Responding To Fire When Incident Occurred
According to the Singapore Police Force (SPF), officers were managing a fire incident at Block 381 Yishun Ring Road at around 5.10pm on 3 July when Yazid allegedly began creating a disturbance.
Police said he repeatedly shouted, used vulgar language and disrupted officers attempting to manage the situation safely. Videos uploaded online appeared to show him speaking in a mocking tone and encouraging bystanders to record the confrontation.
SPF added that despite attempts by officers to engage him, he allegedly refused to stop his behaviour. During the interaction, he is accused of spitting on one of the officers before being arrested at the scene.
The incident quickly attracted public attention after videos of the confrontation spread across social media platforms.
Remanded For Mental Health Assessment
Yazid was formally charged on 6 July with using criminal force to deter a public servant from carrying out official duties under Section 353 of the Penal Code.
If convicted, he could face a jail term of up to four years, a fine, or both.
Following his court appearance, he was remanded for medical examination at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). Court records indicate that the case is scheduled to return to court on 20 July.
The alleged offence may also carry additional consequences because it occurred while he was under a Conditional Remission Order. Individuals who breach the conditions of their remission can be required to serve a further sentence without the one-third remission typically granted for good behaviour.
SPF Reiterates Zero-Tolerance Stance
In a statement issued after the arrest, SPF stressed that it maintains a zero-tolerance approach towards anyone who obstructs, threatens, harasses or uses force against public servants performing their duties.
The police also warned that firm action would be taken against individuals who openly disregard the law or interfere with emergency responders carrying out their responsibilities.
The case remains before the courts and investigations are ongoing.