Clarke Quay bus stop vandalism under probe

[Hasbro]

Clarke Quay bus stop vandalism under probe

Vandalism found at bus stops along River Valley Road supporting blogger threatened to be sued for defamation by the Prime Minister.

Hoe Pei Shan
The Straits Times
Tuesday, May 27, 2014

SINGAPORE - The police are investigating a string of vandalism acts by apparent supporters of blogger Roy Ngerng, who was last week served a letter of demand for a post on May 15 alleging that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had misappropriated Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings.

Mr Ngerng apologised to PM Lee last Friday, and admitted that the allegation in his May 15 post is false and "completely without foundation".

He added: "I unreservedly apologise to Mr Lee Hsien Loong for the distress and embarrassment caused to him by this allegation."

On the same day, information and advertising boards at several bus stops around Clarke Quay were found defaced with text such as "We support CPF blogger" and "Return CPF money" in black block letters, according to a report in The New Paper yesterday.

Yesterday, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) confirmed that graffiti was found at six bus stops, one of which was right outside the Old Hill Street Police Station.

The police confirmed that a report was lodged early last Friday. It is understood that LTA contractors were dispatched by mid-afternoon to clean up the affected areas.

When The Sunday Times visited the vicinity of the Old Hill Street Police Station, there were no traces of the graffiti.

The culprit or culprits could face up to three years in jail or a fine of up to $2,000, and could also receive between three and eight strokes of the cane.

Moulmein-Kallang GRC Member of Parliament Denise Phua condemned the acts which occurred in her ward and called for common sense to prevail.

"Such forms of negative expression are not useful in helping Roy Ngerng's current situation or addressing the deeper issues concerning CPF withdrawal," she said.

"The issue calls for a rational, deeper and more constructive dialogue."

Mr Ngerng, while asking the authorities to exercise "forgiveness and leniency" in dealing with the vandals, urged supporters not to resort to illegal means to show their support.

"This might not be the most appropriate way to get their message out...," he told The Sunday Times.

Instead the 33-year-old health- care worker suggested that they can join him at Hong Lim Park next month for an event that he is organising in protest against the CPF scheme.

He added that he would like to get in touch with those responsible for the vandalism should they be charged by the police, so that he could see how to help them procure legal assistance.

Last Friday's acts of vandalism came less than three weeks after the rooftop of a block of Housing Board flats in Toa Payoh was painted with profanity directed at the ruling party and the police.

Five 17-year-olds were arrested and charged with vandalism, criminal trespass, and other charges days after residents spotted red graffiti splashed on a wall of the 22-storey block in Lorong 4 Toa Payoh on May 7.

By 11.30am, the graffiti was painted over by Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council.

Last month, four boys aged nine and 10 were arrested on suspicion of vandalism after vulgarities and a slogan linked to loan sharks were found spray-painted on property and cars in Punggol.

 

[Hasbro]

Seats in Stamford Road vandalised by apparent supporters of Mr Ngerng, who said he hoped the authorities would engage,
rather than punish, them. -- PHOTO: ST READER RUSH YAP


​

 

[Hasbro]

Updated: 05/28/2014 17:54 | By Channel NewsAsia

Suspected bus stop vandal arrested

SINGAPORE: Police have arrested a 71-year-old man in connection with a series of vandalised bus stops along Clemenceau Ave, River Valley Road, Hill Street and Victoria Street.

In a statement issued on Wednesday (May 28), Police said the suspect was arrested at about 9.15pm on Tuesday. This arrest came after a report of graffiti on the advertisement board of a bus stop along Hill Street was received by the Police at 8am on May 23.

Channel NewsAsia understands the graffiti at Hill Street read: "We support CPF Blogger. Return our CPF money."

Officers then found another 11 other bus stops affected with similar graffiti along Clemenceau Avenue, River Valley Road, Hill Street and Victoria Street.

Ground enquiries, stake-out operations and combing through video footage from CCTVs situated at the affected areas helped Police identify the man.

The suspect faces up to three years' jail, or a fine of up to S$2,000. Those found guilty of vandalism also face no less than three strokes of the cane, and no more than eight. However, only male offenders below the age of 50 can be caned.

- CNA/kk

 

[Hasbro]

Man, 71, nabbed for 'CPF blogger' graffiti

A defaced bus service information panels at a bus stop at Hill Street. It was one of at least five bus stops defaced with text in apparent support of Mr Roy Ngerng, the blogger who insinuated that PM Lee Hsien Loong was “misappropriating” CPF money.

Hoe Pei Shan
The Straits Times
Thursday, May 29, 2014

A 71-year-old man has been arrested for his suspected involvement in acts of vandalism discovered around the Clarke Quay area last week that seemed to be in support of blogger Roy Ngerng.

Police, in a media statement released yesterday, said they were first alerted to the graffiti after a report was lodged on Friday morning about a defaced bus-stop advertisement board in Hill Street.

Officers then conducted checks in Clemenceau Avenue, River Valley Road, Hill Street and Victoria Street, and found similar graffiti at 11 other bus stops.

Two other areas were also vandalised - the electrical box at the junction of Hill Street and North Boat Quay, and stone seats in Stamford Road. Phrases such as "We support CPF blogger" and "Return our CPF money" were scrawled across at least six of the affected areas.

These appeared to be messages backing Mr Ngerng, 33, who received a letter of demand from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on May 18, regarding defamatory remarks made in his blog post about the Central Provident Fund scheme.

Police investigations and inspections of CCTV footage led to the arrest of the suspect on Tuesday.

Anyone found guilty of vandalism could be jailed for up to three years, or fined up to $2,000. He could also receive between three and eight strokes of the cane. As the suspect is above 50, however, he will not be caned if convicted.

Mr Ngerng, a health-care worker, told The Straits Times he was "saddened" by the news of the older man's arrest, and worried for him.

 

[Hasbro]

Police investigate more vandalism by blogger's 'supporters'

A defaced bus service information panel at a bus stop at Hill Street discovered on 23 May 2014. It was one of at least five bus stops defaced with text in apparent support of Mr Roy Ngerng, the blogger who insinuated that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was “misappropriating” CPF money.

Hoe Pei Shan
The Straits Times
Thursday, May 29, 2014

The police have received information on and are investigating more acts of vandalism by apparent supporters of blogger Roy Ngerng.

Mr Ngerng, a 33-year-old health-care worker, was last week served a letter of demand over a post on May 15 alleging that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had misappropriated Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings.

Last Friday, the police began investigating the defacing of six bus stops after a report was lodged that morning.

"We support CPF blogger" and "Return CPF money" were scrawled in black block letters across the information and advertising boards at the bus stops, which were around Clarke Quay.

Contractors from the Land Transport Authority are understood to have cleaned up the graffiti by Friday afternoon, but a Straits Times reader spotted two more instances of similar vandalism on Sunday, and reported them to the police.

The latest acts were found on two stone seats along Stamford Road, also emblazoned with "We support CPF blogger" and "Return our CPF money" in black block letters.

The police told The Straits Times yesterday that investigations into the graffiti reported on Friday and Sunday are ongoing.

Those responsible could face up to three years in jail or a fine of up to $2,000, and could also receive between three and eight strokes of the cane.

Speaking to The Straits Times yesterday, Mr Ngerng said he hoped the authorities would engage, rather than punish, the vandals.

"The Government should try to understand, these are not random acts of vandalism," he said.

"There are better ways to express dissatisfaction, but perhaps some people feel as if the Government hasn't responded adequately in the past... Instead of prosecution, I hope the Government will respond to their concerns."

Vandalism has recently hogged the headlines here - just three weeks ago, the rooftop of a block of Housing Board flats in Toa Payoh was painted with profanities directed at the ruling party and the police.

Criminal psychologist Majeed Khader urged firm action to deter further incidents.

"Vandalism could occur for various reasons, such as anger, envy or mischief," said Dr Majeed, who is also the director of the Home Team Behavioural Sciences Centre.

"Sometimes, vandalism may suggest disgruntlement with a target person or society at large... Quick and consistent clean-up and firm actions against the vandals prevent vandals from returning and serve to deter others from imitating them."

[email protected]

 

[Hasbro]

Elderly man charged over alleged vandalism apparently in support of CPF blogger

Published on May 29, 2014 3:49 PM
By Ian Poh

<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sJS156iVh7w?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="480"></iframe>

SINGAPORE - An elderly man was charged in court on Thursday with six counts of vandalism, apparently in support of blogger Roy Ngerng.

For more than an hour on the afternoon of May 22, or last Thursday, Loh Thiam Hock, 71, allegedly wrote phrases such as "We support CPF Blogger" and "Return our CPF Money" with a black marker on the advertisement boards of six bus stops. The bus stops are along Clemenceau Avenue, River Valley Road and Hill Street.

These appeared to be messages backing Mr Ngerng, who in a May 15 blog post alleged that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had misappropriated CPF savings. PM Lee commenced legal proceedings on a defamation suit against the blogger on Thursday. He did this in a letter sent by his lawyer, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh.

The bespectacled man was remanded to the Institute of Mental Health for psychiatric evaluation, and will next appear in court on June 12. He could be jailed for up to three years and fined up to $2,000 for each of the charges, if convicted. However, as Loh is above 50, he will not be caned if convicted.

 

[Hasbro]

Man, 71, charged over CPF graffiti

A defaced bus service information panels at a bus stop at Hill Street. It was one of at least five bus stops defaced with text in apparent support of Mr Roy Ngerng, the blogger who insinuated that PM Lee Hsien Loong was “misappropriating” CPF money.

Ian Poh
The Straits Times
Sunday, Jun 01, 2014

A 71-year-old man who allegedly defaced bus stops with messages in apparent support of blogger Roy Ngerng was charged with vandalism yesterday.

Loh Thiam Hock allegedly wrote phrases such as "We support CPF Blogger", "Return our CPF Money" and "Above 65 years Bal $5000 in M/AC" with a black marker on the advertisement boards of six bus stops around the Clarke Quay area on Thursday last week.

The messages appeared to back Mr Ngerng, 33, who in a May 15 blog post alleged that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had misappropriated CPF savings.

Yesterday, Mr Lee commenced legal proceedings on a defamation suit against the health-care worker. A writ of summons was sent by his lawyer, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, to Mr Ngerng's lawyer M. Ravi yesterday.

Loh was arrested on Tuesday after police looked through closed-circuit television footage. He faces six counts of vandalism.

The slim and bespectacled man was remanded in the Institute of Mental Health for psychiatric evaluation and will next appear in court on June 12.

He could be jailed for up to three years or fined up to $2,000 for each of the charges, if convicted.

However, as Loh is above 50, he will not be caned if convicted.

In an unrelated act of vandalism a few weeks ago, profanities directed at the ruling party and the police were spray-painted on the rooftop of a Toa Payoh Housing Board block.

Five teens were arrested and charged over their involvement in that incident.

A train at SMRT's Bishan depot was also reportedly defaced on May 5.

[email protected]

 

[Sinkie]

Bishan depot artworker not found? Inside job, so too embarrassed to pursue?

 

[SibeiKuaiLan]

Updated: 06/23/2014 16:17 | By Channel NewsAsia

Bus stop vandal gets 4 weeks' jail

SINGAPORE: A 71-year-old man has been sentenced to four weeks' jail on Monday (June 23) for defacing advertisement boards at bus stops and a transformer box.

Loh Thiam Hock admitted to five counts of committing mischief, one of which caused losses of $500 or more. He was given two weeks' jail for each charge and three of the jail terms will run concurrently.

The court heard that Loh went on a defacement spree after reading a newspaper article on the Central Provident Fund (CPF) on 21 May.

Between 2.35pm and 5.40pm on 22 May, he used a permanent marker to scrawl on four bus stops along Clemenceau Ave, River Valley Road and Hill Street; and a transformer box at the junction of Hill Street and North Boat Quay. One of the phrases read: "We support CPF Blogger, Return our CPF Money."

MediaCorp had to spend about $100 to clean up the defaced advertisement boards. Meantime, SP PowerGrid forked out $1,600 to re-paint the vandalised transformer box.

Loh had pleaded for leniency, saying that he picks up tin cans for a living as a rag-and-bone man. He added that he had been homeless for 10 years.

However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nicholas Lai argued that Loh's acts of mischief were numerous and committed in close proximity to the Central Business District, where there was high pedestrian traffic.

He also told the court that Loh can seek help from counsellors in prison. Following his release, DPP Lai said, Loh could also approach family service centres for help.

In sentencing, District Judge Lim Keng Yeow said Loh's defacement spree was "unacceptable". But he also noted Loh's age and circumstances, and thus called for a community court conference to explore post-sentencing referrals for Loh.

For each charge of committing mischief, Loh could have been jailed for a year and fined. The maximum sentence for a charge of committing mischief and causing loss or damage of $500 or more, is a two-year jail term and a fine. - CNA/kk