Two 19-year-old youths had stolen a car and tried to sell the vehicle, but ended up being ambushed by plainclothes police officers who pretended to be buyers of the car.
The two then panicked and drove off, damaging two police cars and injuring 5 police officers in the process.
The two youth are Lakshan Saravanan, 19-years-old and Chen Jinkai, 19-years-old.
Saravanan was arrested and admitted to his crimes on 29 April, as he faces 17 charges in court including car theft, driving without a valid license and reckless driving.
The incident happened on 30 October 2021 at about 7.30pm, when the two youths booked a carpooling service through Telegram and met with the owner at Compass One Shopping Centre.
The 22-year-old victim, Huang Weijie, picked the two youths up and as they were driving along Fernvale Road, one of the youths asked the victim to go to a nearby supermarket to buy some cigarettes.
The victim agreed and alighted from the car while leaving the engine still on.
The two then drove off with the car once the victim was out of sight, and at about 8.30pm, Saravanan told his girlfriend to post an advertisement on Telegram to help him sell the stolen car.
A buyer then contacted Saravanan the next morning and requested to meet at a carpark at Yishun Street 21.
The two youths and Saravanan’s girlfriend then drove to the carpark and realised that the police had planted an ambush, so they then drove away and fled the scene.
One of the youths was tracked down with the use of CCTV at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 and he and his female guest were then arrested, according to Shin Min Daily News last year.
The investigations were still ongoing when the stolen car had been handed over to the other youth, Chen Jinkai.
The stolen car was then found at a carpark at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 by the police, and a car chase then ensued with Chen at the wheel.
He then drove into and damaged two police cars and injured five police officers in the process.
The case has since been adjourned.