Vandalism of Cenotaph "disrespectful and deplorable": Lawrence Wong

[StarshipTroopers]

Vandalism of Cenotaph "disrespectful and deplorable": Lawrence Wong

By Imelda Saad
POSTED: 25 Apr 2013 2:20 AM

Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong has described the vandalism of the Cenotaph at Esplanade Park - a national monument - as "disrespectful and deplorable".

Vandalism of the Cenotaph at Esplanade Park in Singapore.

SINGAPORE - Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong has described the vandalism of the Cenotaph at Esplanade Park - a national monument - as "disrespectful and deplorable".

Vandals had defaced the war memorial with the word "Democracy" and an "X" sprayed on it.

In a Facebook post, Mr Wong said the Cenotaph "honours the individuals who perished in both the First and Second World Wars".

He added that the site commemorates their sacrifices and contributions.

Mr Wong said the "defacement of any National Monument is unacceptable".

"Many have come out to strongly state our disapproval against the act. We hope the perpetrator(s) will be found and firmly dealt with soon," said Mr Wong.

Cleaning works for the Cenotaph have begun and is expected to be completed in the next two days.

Police are currently investigating the matter.

- CNA/de

 

[lianbeng]

lianbeng suggests the minister to sentence those caught to death by burying them alive under the memorial!

 

[StarshipTroopers]

Police: Vandalism of war memorial a "disrespectful and despicable" act

Published on Apr 24, 2013

Graffiti stains are still visible after a clean-up on the front of the War Memorial at Esplande Park. The police on Wednesday said investigations with regards to the defaced war memorial at Esplanade Park are ongoing. -- ST PHOTO: ASHLEIGH SIM

By Melody Zaccheus

The police on Wednesday said investigations with regard to the defaced war memorial at Esplanade Park are ongoing.

They said they had received a call at 7.17am on Wednesday morning reporting that graffiti had been sprayed on the Cenotaph. The word "democracy" was sprayed in red. The dates 1914 to 1918 had also been axed out.

The war memorial, which commemorates the sacrifice of men who perished during World War I and II, is located along Connaught Drive. The markings had already been removed by cleaners although faint stains remained when The Straits Times visited at noon.

The commander of Central Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Daniel Tan said: "Spraying and defacing a war memorial is a totally disrespectful and despicable act. Police will spare no resources to bring the perpetrators to justice."

 

[StarshipTroopers]

Man arrested for vandalising Cenotaph war memorial

By Alvina Soh
POSTED: 27 Apr 2013 10:22 PM

A 32-year-old Singaporean man has been arrested for vandalising a national monument. At about 7.17am on Wednesday morning, a member of public had reported to the police that the Cenotaph war memorial at the Esplanade Park was found sprayed with graffiti.

Vandalism of the Cenotaph at Esplanade Park in Singapore.

SINGAPORE: A 32-year-old Singaporean man has been arrested for vandalising a national monument.

At about 7.17am on Wednesday morning, a member of public had reported to the police that the Cenotaph war memorial at the Esplanade Park was found sprayed with graffiti.

After extensive investigations, the suspect was arrested at a building along Handy Road about 11.30am on Saturday morning.

Police also seized several items for investigation - including a long-sleeved T-shirt, a pair of denim jeans, a pair of shoes, a tote bag and a pair of headphones.

The suspect will be charged in court on Monday under the Vandalism Act.

If convicted, he could be jailed up to three years, fined up to S$2,000, and given up to eight strokes of the cane.

- CNA/xq

 

[scroobal]

Lawrence Wong really has no work or subject to focus on. This country have never been in situation like this where the citizens are not even sure if the Govt values them and he wants to talk about vandalism.

What about doors, walls, lifts vandalised daily by loanshark and people living in fear. What about motorcycles burnt by loansharks just because they happen to live in the same block as the debtor.

The paint on the cenotaph can be removed by solvents. He needs to focus on getting the country back to the citizens.

 

[Barin]

Police on Saturday arrested a 32 year-old Singaporean in connection with the vandalism of the Cenotaph war memorial at the Esplanade Park.
-- PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE


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[Barin]

"Extensive investigations and round the clock enquiries were conducted," said the spokesman.
"Among the exhibits seized are a long-sleeved T-shirt, a pair of denim jeans, a pair of shoes, a 'tote' bag, and a pair of headphones for investigation."
-- PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE


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[Barin]

The Cenotaph, the first military commemorative structure in Singapore honouring those who died in the two World Wars,
was vandalised late on 23 April 2013 night, according to some witnesses. -- FILE PHOTO: STOMP


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[Barin]

Faded red paint still visible on the Cenotaph, a war memorial at Esplanade Park which was vandalised by a man on 23 April 2013.
-- TNP FILE PHOTO: AUDREY KANG


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[lianbeng]

lianbeng suggests the minister to sentence those caught to death by burying them alive under the memorial!

lianbeng changed my sentence: tie that guy in front of the memorial then bomb him with rotten eggs, tomatoes, and let lightning strike him lah!

 

[hokkien]

lianbeng changed my sentence: tie that guy in front of the memorial then bomb him with rotten eggs, tomatoes, and let lightning strike him lah!

Bro those who dont know you might thought you came from Arab

 

[lianbeng]

Bro those who dont know you might thought you came from Arab

lianbeng dun understand what u mean by came from Arab leh?

 

[Barin]

Alleged vandal charged with defacing Cenotaph war memorial

POSTED: 29 Apr 2013 10:56 AM

A Singaporean man alleged to have vandalised the Cenotaph war memorial at the Esplanade Park has been charged.

Vandalism of the Cenotaph at Esplanade Park in Singapore.

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man alleged to have vandalised the Cenotaph war memorial at the Esplanade Park has been charged.

Mohamad Khalid Mohamad Yusop was on Monday charged with one count of vandalism.

The 32-year-old will be held in remand at the central police division to assist in investigations.

He allegedly defaced the monument on 23 April shortly after 11pm.

The case was first reported to the authorities by a member of the public on 24 April, who saw the monument sprayed with graffiti.

Mohamad Khalid was arrested by the police at a building along Handy Road at about 11:30am on 27 April.

Under the Vandalism Act, the accused faces a fine of up to S$2,000 or a maximum imprisonment term of up to three years.

He can also be caned between three and eight strokes.

The case will be mentioned again on 6 May.

- CNA/ck

 

[Barin]

Cenotaph vandalism: Accused remanded for psychiatric evaluation

Published on May 02, 2013
3:38 PM

The Cenotaph, a war memorial at Esplanade Park which was vandalised by a man, on April 23, 2013. The man accused of vandalising the Cenotaph has been remanded for psychiatric evaluation. The case of security officer Mohamad Khalid Mohamad Yusop, 32, originally fixed for mention on May 5, was brought forward on Thursday. -- PHOTO: STOMP

By Elena Chong

The man accused of vandalising the Cenotaph has been remanded for psychiatric evaluation. The case of security officer Mohamad Khalid Mohamad Yusop, 32, originally fixed for mention May 5, was brought forward on Thursday.

He is alleged to have spray painted the word "democracy'' and scrawled a huge "X'' cancelling out the period 1914 to 1918 on the war memorial at Connaught Drive last Tuesday evening.

The Cenotaph was erected in 1920 to commemorate the 124 soldiers from Singapore who were lost in World War I. In 1950, an extension to commemorate those who died in World War II was added. It was gazetted as a national monument in 2010.

Khalid, who is unrepresented, was arrested by the police at Handy Road last Saturday. His next court date is May 16. If convicted, he could be fined up to $2,000 or jailed for up to three years and given between three and eight strokes of the cane.

 

[Slayer]

Updated: 08/12/2013 13:15 | By Channel NewsAsia

Man pleads guilty to vandalising Cenotaph

SINGAPORE: A security officer on Monday pleaded guilty to vandalising the Cenotaph war monument.

33-year-old Mohamad Khalid Mohamad Yusop had used a can of red spray paint to write an "X", followed by the word "Democracy" on the monument on the night of 23 April this year.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Wee Hao told the court that Khalid had left his home that day with the can of indelible red spray paint, previously bought to repaint his kitchen cabinet.

He had decided that he wanted to use it to spray an "X" at a location that could be seen by the public and looked for a suitable target.

Two witnesses saw him commit the act that night.

When one of them confronted him, Khalid told him it was art.

He also said it was a revolution.

After Khalid left the scene, he threw the can of spray paint into the river near the Esplanade.

He was arrested a few days later - on 27 April.

Repairs to the monument amounted to S$208.

In mitigation, Khalid's lawyer Choo Zheng Xi said his client was "deeply remorseful" and wished to apologise unreservedly to the descendants of the war dead and to all Singaporeans for the "foolish and gravely insensitive" act.

Mr Choo added that it was never Khalid's intention to make a political statement.

"The context of his actions occurred in the dissatisfaction with his family situation that he didn't know how to deal with," he said.

Khalid, who is out on bail, will be sentenced on 26 August.

He could face a jail term of up to three years and caning. - CNA/xq

 

[Flake]

Updated: 08/26/2013 17:14 | By Channel NewsAsia

Cenotaph vandal gets 3 months' jail, 3 strokes

SINGAPORE: A security officer who vandalised the Cenotaph War Monument was sentenced to three months' jail and three strokes of the cane on Monday.

Mohamad Khalid Mohamad Yusop, 33, was also made to pay S$208 to the state for the cost of repair.

He had used a can of red spray paint to write an "X" followed by the word "Democracy" on the monument on 23 April night.

In sentencing, District Judge Lim Tse Haw described the act as "highly anti-social" and "very selfish".

Citing the case of Oliver Fricker, the foreigner who vandalised two SMRT train carriages, the judge said Singapore's strict laws against vandalism are largely responsible for a clean and graffiti-free environment here.

While the judge noted that the cost of repair was higher in the Fricker case at about S$11,000, compared with the S$208 in the Cenotaph case, he said the key aggravating factor is the significance of the public property that was vandalised.

Built in 1922, the Cenotaph monument is dedicated to the memory of 124 British soldiers born or resident in Singapore who died in World War I. It was later also dedicated to the memory of those who died in World War II.

"These soldiers sacrificed their lives so that we can enjoy the peace that we have today," the judge told Mohamad Khalid. "By your actions, you have shown great disrespect to the memory of our war dead and hurt the feelings of their descendants."

The judge noted that Mohamad Khalid had a low level of premeditation.

He also took into account the fact that Mohamad Khalid had apologized and sought the forgiveness of all Singaporeans for his unthinking action.

Still, the judge said the monument is in a public place and a deterrent sentence is warranted.

Mohamad Khalid could have been fined up to S$2,000 or jailed up to three years and caned between three and eight strokes.

- CNA/ir

 

[Flake]

Security guard Mohamad Khalid Mohamad Yusop, was sentence 3 months' jail and 3 strokes of the can for vandalism on Aug 12, 2013.
He had earlier spray-painted "democracy" and a big "X" in red on The Cenotaph war memorial in April. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW


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