SAF servicemen injured in attack by gang in Perth
By Ng Kai Ling
One of the victims suffered severe bruising and cuts to his back and torso. Both his eyes were swollen and he may need plastic surgery on his eye. The other victim had a 2cm to 3cm cut on his forehead that required stitches. The two RSAF servicemen were attacked while fishing near Ascot Waters at 4am on Saturday by a group of about seven men who had asked them for cigarettes. -- PHOTO: WESTERN AUSTRALIA POLICE
THEY were beaten with a metal wrench, a beer bottle and even their own fishing rods.
And it was all because they refused to give their attackers cigarettes.
Two full-time national servicemen were injured in the assault by a gang of seven men, which happened in a quiet suburb of Perth on Saturday.
The off-duty Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) servicemen, aged 19 and 20, were fishing at about 4am when the group approached them to ask for cigarettes, said Western Australia police.
Both replied by asking how old the group were.
The seven men then left, only to return brandishing the empty bottle and the wrench.
This time they demanded the two Singaporeans hand over their wallets. They then set upon them with their makeshift weapons and the victims' fishing rods.
The group then fled the scene, taking with them some of the victims' cash and credit cards.
The servicemen were taken to Royal Perth Hospital, said police. The 19-year-old had a 2cm to 3cm cut on his forehead that required stitches.
His companion suffered severe bruising and cuts to his back and torso. Both his eyes were swollen and he may need plastic surgery on his eye.
No arrests have been made, the police told The Straits Times. They are looking for the group, described by the victims as 'dark-skinned males' in their late teens and early 20s, and with an average height of about 1.8m.
The residential suburb where the attack happened is called Ascot Waters, and is less than 10km from the city centre. It is popular with fishing enthusiasts as it is right by the Swan River.
In a statement yesterday, the Defence Ministry (Mindef) confirmed that both victims are in the air force.
Mindef added that they were based at the RSAF's Flying Training Institute at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Pearce in Perth, about 35km from Ascot Waters.
The institute is home to servicemen from the RSAF's 130 Squadron.
The victims were discharged from the hospital on the same day and their next of kin were informed.
The RSAF detachment in the RAAF Base Pearce in Perth is assisting the Australian authorities with their investigations.
This is not the first time that Singaporean soldiers training in Australia have been involved in such incidents.
On Oct 19, 1996, two servicemen were attacked and robbed in front of a motel in Rockhampton, where the SAF's largest annual overseas exercise is held every year.
Earlier that month, another serviceman in Rockhampton was elbowed in the face by a passer-by.
By Ng Kai Ling
One of the victims suffered severe bruising and cuts to his back and torso. Both his eyes were swollen and he may need plastic surgery on his eye. The other victim had a 2cm to 3cm cut on his forehead that required stitches. The two RSAF servicemen were attacked while fishing near Ascot Waters at 4am on Saturday by a group of about seven men who had asked them for cigarettes. -- PHOTO: WESTERN AUSTRALIA POLICE
THEY were beaten with a metal wrench, a beer bottle and even their own fishing rods.
And it was all because they refused to give their attackers cigarettes.
Two full-time national servicemen were injured in the assault by a gang of seven men, which happened in a quiet suburb of Perth on Saturday.
The off-duty Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) servicemen, aged 19 and 20, were fishing at about 4am when the group approached them to ask for cigarettes, said Western Australia police.
Both replied by asking how old the group were.
The seven men then left, only to return brandishing the empty bottle and the wrench.
This time they demanded the two Singaporeans hand over their wallets. They then set upon them with their makeshift weapons and the victims' fishing rods.
The group then fled the scene, taking with them some of the victims' cash and credit cards.
The servicemen were taken to Royal Perth Hospital, said police. The 19-year-old had a 2cm to 3cm cut on his forehead that required stitches.
His companion suffered severe bruising and cuts to his back and torso. Both his eyes were swollen and he may need plastic surgery on his eye.
No arrests have been made, the police told The Straits Times. They are looking for the group, described by the victims as 'dark-skinned males' in their late teens and early 20s, and with an average height of about 1.8m.
The residential suburb where the attack happened is called Ascot Waters, and is less than 10km from the city centre. It is popular with fishing enthusiasts as it is right by the Swan River.
In a statement yesterday, the Defence Ministry (Mindef) confirmed that both victims are in the air force.
Mindef added that they were based at the RSAF's Flying Training Institute at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Pearce in Perth, about 35km from Ascot Waters.
The institute is home to servicemen from the RSAF's 130 Squadron.
The victims were discharged from the hospital on the same day and their next of kin were informed.
The RSAF detachment in the RAAF Base Pearce in Perth is assisting the Australian authorities with their investigations.
This is not the first time that Singaporean soldiers training in Australia have been involved in such incidents.
On Oct 19, 1996, two servicemen were attacked and robbed in front of a motel in Rockhampton, where the SAF's largest annual overseas exercise is held every year.
Earlier that month, another serviceman in Rockhampton was elbowed in the face by a passer-by.
