Jobless man jailed for 'bicycle rage'

[Boba Fett]

Jobless man jailed for 'bicycle rage'

By Kimberly Spykerman | Posted: 30 November 2012 1622 hrs

SINGAPORE: A jobless man was sentenced to nine weeks' jail for hitting a cyclist with a bicycle chain.

David Heng Aik Seng, 39, was also fined S$2,000 for criminal intimidation and S$3,000 for hurting another cyclist.

The court heard that in May this year, Heng used a bicycle chain to hit 52-year-old business consultant, Ricky Ho Hock Poh, repeatedly on his head, arms and body at Changi Coast Park Connector.

Mr Ho and a friend had cycled past Heng when Mr Ho suddenly heard his friend call out.

He saw that his friend had fallen off his bicycle.

Mr Ho then approached Heng, believing that he had pushed his friend off the bicycle.

Heng then pushed Mr Ho, causing him to fall, and then hit him with a bicycle chain.

Mr Ho had multiple bruises and abrasions even though he was wearing a helmet.

Heng also admitted to criminal intimidation in December last year when he blocked the path of another cyclist, Mr Khushvinder Singh Chopra.

He then swung a bicycle chain which hit the handlebar of the victim's bicycle.

About three weeks later, he spat and hurled vulgarities at Mr Nordin Othman, who had overtaken him while cycling along Changi Coast Park Connector.

Heng kicked Mr Nordin's bicycle causing him to fall and hurt himself.

Four other charges that included mischief and intentional alarm were taken into consideration during sentencing.

- CNA/fa

 

[Guile]

Man jailed for attacking cyclist

By Elena Chong
The Straits Times
Monday, Dec 03, 2012

SINGAPORE - An unemployed man who assaulted a cyclist with a bicycle chain was jailed for nine weeks on last week.

David Heng Aik Seng, who also admitted to two other charges of swinging a chain at another cyclist and causing a third man to fall from his bicycle, was fined a total of $5,000.

The 39-year-old pleaded guilty to hurting business consultant Ricky Ho Hock Poh, 52, by hitting his head, arms and body with a bicycle chain along Changi's Coastal Park Connector on May 11.

He also admitted to threatening consultant Khushvinder Singh Chopra with injury by swinging the chain and hitting the 48-year-old's bicycle handlebars on Dec 26 last year.

On Jan 13 this year, he kicked flight attendant Nordin Othman's bicycle, causing him to fall and injure himself.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Cyril Cheo said that Mr Ho and two friends, including Mr Richard Chew, 53, had cycled past Heng along the Coastal Park Connector on May 11 when Mr Ho suddenly heard Mr Chew calling out to him. He saw that his friend had fallen off his bicycle.

Believing that Heng had pushed Mr Chew, Mr Ho walked towards Heng, who pushed him, causing Mr Ho to fall.

Heng then swung the bicycle chain and hit Mr Ho repeatedly on the head, arms and body.

Even though the victim was wearing a bicycle helmet, he still suffered multiple injuries as a result of the assault, said Mr Cheo.

In last December's incident, Mr Chopra was cycling with his friends along the Coastal Park Connector when Heng suddenly blocked his path and swung his bicycle chain, which struck the victim's handlebars.

On Jan 13 this year, Mr Nordin, 52, was cycling in the area when he overtook Heng, who spat and abused him. The victim ignored him.

When Mr Nordin cycled past Heng again, Heng kicked his bicycle, causing the victim to fall and hurt himself.

Heng's lawyer, Mr Derek Kang, said the avid long-distance runner and regular participant in marathons ran regularly in the East Coast Park and Changi areas. He said the offences were not premeditated and his client had surrendered to the police in May after discovering that a video of the incident with Mr Chopra had been posted on the Internet.

The lawyer added that Heng was not of a violent disposition and, after the incidents, had been attending monthly counselling sessions with non-profit organisation Silver Ribbon, which helps people with mental health issues. He was deeply remorseful for his actions, said Mr Kang.

District Judge Lim Keng Yeow said he did not find Heng's actions to be minor but quite shocking. Four other charges were taken into consideration.

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