As we know, Singapore is one of the Asian countries which have the most diverse cultures and nationalities among its residents. Because of this, respect and tolerance are important values that must be exercised by people in this kind of environment.
Failure to do so could trigger potential incidences of misunderstanding, discrimination, and in some cases, threats to public order. These kinds of incidences are never taken lightly by the government out of the interest for its people and national security.
Indian National who Sparked Riot Involving Over 50 Armed Foreigners Gets Jail, Cane
An Indian national was sentenced to jail and caning for his alleged role in a massive riot which saw the involvement of more than 50 foreigners armed with improvised weapons to cause injuries and damages, as shared in a report by the Straits Times.
The fight which took place near the Silat Road Sikh Temple in Jalan Bukit Merah back in April, 2017, had caused major traffic disruptions when it spilled onto Kampong Bahru Road.
The 26-year old defendant, Yadwinder Singh, was sentenced to five years and five months’ jail with 12 strokes of the cane.
On Thursday (March 21), Singh pleaded guilty to one count of each rioting, failing to provide his travel papers when attempting to leave the country, and extortion, which is related to a separate incident.
The defendant, who was already jailed for rioting back in 2016, had been on a remission order not to commit any more offences between January 21 and July 2, 2017.
Even then, Singh was not deported after his early release in 2017, as he was a prosecution witness in one of his earlier cases, and was given a special pass to remain in Singapore until his most recent brush with the law.
For his role in rioting alone, Singh could have been jailed for up to 10 years and caned, but the breach of his remission order could have made his sentence much worse.