Singapore – A 52-year-old Australian traveler will spend more than five months behind bars in Singapore after a string of abusive acts against police officers. The incidents started at Changi Airport and continued inside a hospital ward.
According to a news report, Morris David received five months and six weeks’ jail and a $5,000 fine on Friday, Oct 30. His sentence was backdated to July 16, the day he arrived in Singapore and a day before he was placed in remand.
A Transit Stop That Spiraled Out of Control
Morris was flying home to Australia from Bali when he landed at Changi on July 16. He had hurt his head in Bali and was wheeled to the Terminal 3 clinic, but he walked out once he learned he would have to pay for treatment.
Things escalated quickly:
- Police were first called after he turned hostile toward a manager at the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold Lounge.
- After treatment at Changi General Hospital, he returned to the airport with an invalid boarding pass and demanded lounge access and a seat on his flight.
- He swore at an auxiliary police officer who tried to help him at the check-in counter. He then turned on other officers as he tried to get a taxi, threatening to knock one officer’s glasses off his head.
Threats and Spitting at the Hospital
Morris was taken back to Changi General Hospital and sedated while officers kept watch. Court papers show he threatened six officers during his stay and spat at them repeatedly. He told two of them he wanted to choke them, calling one a “fat pig.”
He also tried to bite an officer who was putting a mask on him. When he asked to use the toilet, he was offered a potty and urinal bottle. Instead, he threatened to throw his faeces at the officers and eventually urinated in their direction.
What the Judge Said
District Judge Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz pointed to 32 hours of nonstop aggression. She said his actions showed “a prolonged and flagrant disregard for authority and the dignity of the public officers involved.” She called the urinating “particularly reprehensible” and said the sentence signals that such behavior will not be tolerated.
Prosecutors had sought eight months and one week. The defense said Morris was remorseful and ready to apologize, and asked for a fine and a shorter jail term.
A Reminder for All of Us in Singapore
Under the Protection from Harassment Act 2014, abusive, threatening or insulting words or behavior toward a public servant can mean up to 12 months’ jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Assaulting or using criminal force on an officer on duty carries up to four years’ jail and a fine.
For our kababayan, stressful days at the airport or anywhere else happen to everyone. Staying calm and respectful with officers protects your record, your work pass and your future here.