4 days' jail, S$2,000 fine for smoker who harassed NEA enforcement officer after being issued summons
www.todayonline.com
SINGAPORE — Upset that he had been caught for smoking in a non-smoking area, Hafiz Hadinan harassed two National Environment Agency (NEA) officers by cursing at them and tapping on an officer’s body-worn camera.
His female companion also slapped one of the officers.
Hafiz was handed a jail term of four days and a S$2,000 fine on Thursday (Feb 29) after pleading guilty to using criminal force and harassing a public servant.
The 34-year-old, who was sentenced for several offences including voluntarily causing grievous hurt previously, said that he was intoxicated during the incident and apologised.
The court heard that at about 7pm on July 23 last year, Hafiz and Omison Maricel Entrina, a 38-year-old Filipina, were stopped by two NEA enforcement officers for smoking at a designated non-smoking area near *Scape along Orchard Road.
Since 2019, public areas within the Orchard Road precinct have been designated as a no-smoking zone, where smoking is only allowed in designated smoking areas.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Chye Jer Yuan said that while the officers were processing the summons for the smoking infringement, Hafiz uttered "can you do your work right now" and shouted "give me your name".
He also continued tapping on the male officer's body-worn camera and pulled the lanyard around the officer's neck intentionally, trying to take a video of the identity card, which was hung on it.
Hafiz also verbally abused the same officer by using vulgar language.
"Despite being asked to stop, he did so knowing that it was likely to cause annoyance to the victim, while the NEA enforcement officers were processing the summons against him and the co-accused," DPP Chye added.
Entrina was sentenced to four days' jail last month for using criminal force against a public servant.
DPP Chye said that despite the duo's harassment, the NEA enforcement officers were seen in footage from the body-worn camera being patient and courteous.
DPP Chye sought a sentence of at least five days' jail and a fine of at least S$2,000.
He said that Hafiz's actions "was committed within the public’s view, undermining public confidence in NEA enforcement officers and compromising their effectiveness as law enforcement officers".
Hafiz, who was not represented by a lawyer, claimed that he did not intend to harass the enforcement officers as he was drunk.
During sentencing, Judge Chin said that he agreed with DPP Chye, adding that enforcement officers are "frontline officers who deserve protection" and should not be treated poorly.
He added during sentencing that he hoped Hafiz would learn from this episode and stay away from crime.
For using criminal force against a public servant, Hafiz could have been jailed for up to four years or fined, or both.
For using insulting words towards a public servant, he could have been jailed for up to 12 months or fined up to S$5,000, or both.
www.todayonline.com
SINGAPORE — Upset that he had been caught for smoking in a non-smoking area, Hafiz Hadinan harassed two National Environment Agency (NEA) officers by cursing at them and tapping on an officer’s body-worn camera.
His female companion also slapped one of the officers.
Hafiz was handed a jail term of four days and a S$2,000 fine on Thursday (Feb 29) after pleading guilty to using criminal force and harassing a public servant.
The 34-year-old, who was sentenced for several offences including voluntarily causing grievous hurt previously, said that he was intoxicated during the incident and apologised.
The court heard that at about 7pm on July 23 last year, Hafiz and Omison Maricel Entrina, a 38-year-old Filipina, were stopped by two NEA enforcement officers for smoking at a designated non-smoking area near *Scape along Orchard Road.
Court documents did not state the relationship between Hafiz and Entrina.Since 2019, public areas within the Orchard Road precinct have been designated as a no-smoking zone, where smoking is only allowed in designated smoking areas.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Chye Jer Yuan said that while the officers were processing the summons for the smoking infringement, Hafiz uttered "can you do your work right now" and shouted "give me your name".
He also continued tapping on the male officer's body-worn camera and pulled the lanyard around the officer's neck intentionally, trying to take a video of the identity card, which was hung on it.
Hafiz also verbally abused the same officer by using vulgar language.
"Despite being asked to stop, he did so knowing that it was likely to cause annoyance to the victim, while the NEA enforcement officers were processing the summons against him and the co-accused," DPP Chye added.
As for Entrina, while the female officer was explaining the summon payment, she pushed the officer's hand away and gave the officer's left cheek "a hard tap".Entrina was sentenced to four days' jail last month for using criminal force against a public servant.
DPP Chye said that despite the duo's harassment, the NEA enforcement officers were seen in footage from the body-worn camera being patient and courteous.
DPP Chye sought a sentence of at least five days' jail and a fine of at least S$2,000.
He said that Hafiz's actions "was committed within the public’s view, undermining public confidence in NEA enforcement officers and compromising their effectiveness as law enforcement officers".
Hafiz, who was not represented by a lawyer, claimed that he did not intend to harass the enforcement officers as he was drunk.
However, he backtracked when District Judge Kenneth Chin pointed out that his statement would contradict the agreed facts to which he pleaded guilty.During sentencing, Judge Chin said that he agreed with DPP Chye, adding that enforcement officers are "frontline officers who deserve protection" and should not be treated poorly.
He added during sentencing that he hoped Hafiz would learn from this episode and stay away from crime.
For using criminal force against a public servant, Hafiz could have been jailed for up to four years or fined, or both.
For using insulting words towards a public servant, he could have been jailed for up to 12 months or fined up to S$5,000, or both.
