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SINGAPORE: The roof level of a 22-storey Housing and Development Board block was painted with graffiti containing vulgarities and criticism of a political party in an apparent case of vandalism.
Pictures of the graffiti were circulated on social media sites on Wednesday morning.
Police said they received a call at 6.47am requesting for assistance at Blk 85A, Toa Payoh Lorong 4.
"Upon police's arrival, it was established that a case of vandalism had occurred at the said location," a police spokesman said.
A contractor at the scene told Channel NewsAsia that residents had called the Town Council's 24-hour hotline to complain about the graffiti.
The access hatch to the block's parapet was locked when the police tried to enter the site on Wednesday morning.
According to a Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council staff member, who did not want to be named, the water tanks on the roof top had not been tampered with.
"I don't know how they managed to get up here. The police are investigating,” said the staff member.
“They can't get access to the roof level because it is locked. You would need the key and our approval."
At around 11.30am, workers were seen painting over the graffiti.
Residents Channel NewsAsia spoke with said they only noticed something was amiss when police officers called on them to ask questions.
"I slept at 1am. So basically, when I went to bed, it was quiet and usually if anything outside happens, I can hear it," said Yeo Huie Lin, a resident.
However, they had concerns about the incident.
Resident Ambrosia Yap said: "They can go up to the water tank. This is also a very terrible problem because… you won't know what they can put in the water. And probably they need to check on it and they should have some policemen around these few days."
A spokesperson from Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council said the Town Council keeps the key to the trapdoor that gives access to the rooftop and that authorised personnel must sign for the key and be accompanied by an auxiliary police officer.
The Town Council said no one has requested for the key and it has handed the records to the Police for their investigation.
The town council said the security process to control access to the rooftops has remained intact.
However, it will review all the processes again and strengthen them where necessary. - CNA/fa/ec
"No breach of security measures" in HDB roof vandalism case
SINGAPORE: There was "no breach of security measures" by the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council in relation to the vandalism case in Toa Payoh on Wednesday.
Coordinating Chairman of the People's Action Party (PAP) Town Councils, Dr Teo Ho Pin, said this on Thursday in response to queries by Channel NewsAsia.
Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) were seen combing Block 85A Toa Payoh Lorong 4, a day after the vandalism took place.
The roof level at that block of flats was painted with graffiti containing vulgarities seemingly directed at the ruling party.
This was possibly the second time unauthorised persons have managed to get onto the rooftop of an HDB flat.
In 2011, a foreign domestic worker's body was found in a rooftop water tank in Sembawang.
Dr Teo stressed that the PAP town councils take a serious view of the security and safety of roofs and water tanks at HDB blocks.
He said that over the last three years, the town councils have set up a security protocol on rooftop access.
Dr Teo said: "The town councils have set up three lines of defence to make sure that (only) authorised personnel can go up to the rooftop of our HDB flats.
"So we have, first of all, secured locks to make sure that all the trap doors and all the doors are properly locked using a very robust lock system.
"We also make sure that our water tanks are all with brackets -- they are all bolted down to make sure that nobody can vandalise (them).
"At the same time, we have an authorised access system where only authorised persons can go up the roof."
The town councils believe the present security system is adequate to prevent any unauthorised access to the roofs. However, they will need to evaluate if the breach is caused by other factors.
Channel NewsAsia has been trying to figure out how the vandals could have reached the rooftop without using the trap door.
Looking at the place, one can see a small opening which leads to the roof. There are also stains on the walls, which could mean that the vandals could have placed a ladder against the walls to get to the opening.
A ladder was found beneath the access hatch to the rooftop.
Residents have also suggested the use of close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to deter unauthorised entry to the roof.
Police have plans to install CCTV cameras at 10,000 HDB blocks and multi-storey carparks by the fourth quarter of 2016.
The Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council said it has filed a police report and is cooperating with investigations. - CNA/xq/al
5 youths to be charged over Toa Payoh roof graffiti
POSTED: 10 May 2014 09:57
Five 17-year-olds are set to be charged on Saturday over the graffiti case at Toa Payoh, where profanities were found spray-painted at the rooftop of a HDB block.
Three of the five suspects being brought to court to face charges over graffiti at the roof of a HDB block in Toa Payoh. (Photo: Ernest Chua, TODAY)
SINGAPORE: Five 17-year-olds are set to be charged on Saturday over the rooftop graffiti case at Toa Payoh.
Profanities against the People’s Action Party and the police were found spray-painted in bright red at the rooftop of Block 85A at Toa Payoh Lorong 4 on Wednesday morning, prompting a police investigation.
The police said officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and Tanglin Police Division conducted extensive ground enquiries and managed to establish the identity of the suspects. An operation was mounted on Friday, leading to the arrest of the five suspects.
The five are set to be charged with vandalism. A person convicted of the offence could be jailed up to three years or fined up to S$2,000, and shall also be punished with at least three strokes of the cane.
Updated: 05/10/2014 11:07 | By Channel NewsAsia
5 teens charged with vandalism in roof graffiti case
SINGAPORE: Five teenagers, believed to be behind the vandalism at the rooftop of a Toa Payoh HDB block, were charged in court on Saturday.
They were arrested on Friday - two days after the vandalism was first spotted by residents.
The five 17-year-olds were brought to the State Courts in a police van early on Saturday morning.
Sporting casual clothes and shaved heads, Reagan Tan, Boaz Koh, Chay Nam Shen, Goh Rong Liang, and David William Graaskov were expressionless as the charges of vandalism with common intention were read to them.
Goh asked to make a phone call to inform his family of his arrest, as he had been arrested at work.
His request was declined by the district judge, who then directed the police prosecutor to get the investigating officer to inform the boy's family.
The five are believed to be responsible for graffiti that was spray-painted on the rooftop walls of Block 85A, Lorong 4 Toa Payoh.
The graffiti contained vulgarities directed at Singapore's ruling party.
The police prosecutor told the court that the five teenagers were also believed to be involved in other similar cases.
They have been remanded a week for further investigations, and will be back in court on May 16.
It is still not clear how the vandals managed to get to the rooftop of the 22-storey block as investigations by the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council indicated there was no breach of security measures.
This was according to the coordinating chairman for the People's Action Party (PAP) Town Councils Dr Teo Ho Pin.
Vandalism carries a jail term of up to three years or a fine of up to S$2,000 and at least three strokes of the cane. - CNA/xq
Updated: 05/11/2014 20:40 | By Channel NewsAsia
Vandalism not acceptable: Indranee Rajah
SINGAPORE: Senior Minister of State for Law and Education Indranee Rajah has come out strongly against the perpetrators behind the two vandalism cases that occurred this week.
Ms Indranee said vandalism is not acceptable, pointing out that there are avenues for the public to express their views.
She said: "My view on vandalism, that's a no, no definitely… because you should respect common property. You should respect the areas that other people live in and what they see.
“If you have a viewpoint that you wish to express, there are ways and means of expressing it. You do not have to damage property to do that.”
On Wednesday, graffiti was found along the rooftop of Block 85A at Toa Payoh Lorong 4. Five 17-year-olds have been charged with vandalism.
On Saturday, it emerged that an SMRT train had been vandalised at the Bishan MRT Depot. - CNA/xq
Judge dismisses gag order application in HDB vandalism case
SINGAPORE: One of the five boys allegedly involved in a vandalism case in Toa Payoh has had a gag order application dismissed by a district judge on Wednesday.
David William Graaskov, 17, is alleged to have been part of the group that sprayed profane graffiti denigrating the People's Action Party and the police at Block 85A, Toa Payoh Lorong 4, on May 7.
Graaskov's lawyer, Mr Choo Zheng Xi, had applied for a gag order to be imposed, to prevent the publication of any information that may lead to the identification of his client.
Mr Choo said that, if granted, he would use the gag order as a basis for compelling websites to take down any offending material.
The prosecution objected to the application, saying that the law prohibiting the identification of witnesses was generally used to protect victims, especially in cases involving sexual offences.
Mr Choo had cited the example of the prosecution's application to impose a gag order on Cecilia Sue's name in the trial of former Central Narcotics Bureau chief Ng Boon Gay, in spite of the fact that she was not a victim of a sex crime.
In this case, Mr Choo was seeking a gag order in respect of an accused person, the prosecution added.
Graaskov's lawyer was unable to cite a precedent in which a gag order had been imposed on an accused person.
District Judge Eddy Tham ruled that a gag order was "inappropriate" and dismissed Mr Choo's application.
Lawyer gets nod to access teen client charged with vandalism
Published on May 14, 2014 1:00 PM
The five 17-year olds arrested for suspected vandalism at Blk 85A Lorong 4 Toa Payoh. -- ST FILE PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
By Elena Chong
A lawyer was on Wednesday granted access to his teen client who was one of the five 17-year-olds charged with spray-painting graffiti at the top of a 22-storey HDB block in Toa Payoh. A second application by Mr Choo Zheng Xi for a the name of his client, David William Graaskov, 17, to be gagged, however, was turned down by the court.
Mr Choo's applications were heard in court after he had failed to get permission from the police to speak to his client last week. He argued for the gag order to limit damage to his client by submitting screen shots of online forum discussions in court.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tang Shangjun had no objection to the access issue, but objected to the gag order as such an application only applies for victims, especially in sexual offences.
Graaskov, Goh Rong Liang, Boaz Koh Wen Jie, Chay Nam Shen and Reagan Tan Chang Zhi were charged last Saturday with vandalism by spraying graffiti on walls at the rooftop of Block 85A Lorong 4 Toa Payoh at about 12.30am on May 7.
HDB vandals: Court to hear lawyer's bid for access to teen client
Application to meet alleged vandal in remand is a test case, lawyers say
Published on May 14, 2014 6:50 AM
A worker painting over the spray-painted red graffiti across the walls of a rooftop of Block 85A, Lorong 4 Toa Payoh on 7 May 2014. -- PHOTO: SPH
By K. C. Vijayan Senior Law Correspondent
The State Court is due to hear an application today for one of the five teens accused of vandalising a Toa Payoh HDB block to be allowed access to his lawyer.
Defence counsel Choo Zheng Xi made the application when he could not get permission from the police to speak to his client last week. It is understood that he offered to meet the teen in the presence of the police so as not to affect investigations but this was also denied.
The suspect is one of five Singaporeans, all aged 17, who were charged last Saturday with vandalism. They are accused of spray- painting graffiti at the top of a 22-storey HDB block in Lorong 4 Toa Payoh. The expletives painted in red were seemingly directed at the ruling People's Action Party and the police.
The five - Boaz Koh Wen Jie, Chay Nam Shen, David William Graaskov, Goh Rong Liang and Reagan Tan Chang Zhi - are in remand at Tanglin Police Division.
SINGAPORE: The five teenagers accused of vandalising the roof of a 22-storey HDB block in Toa Payoh were on Friday offered bail of S$12,000 each.
Reagan Tan Chang Zhi, Chay Nam Shen, Boaz Koh Wen Jie, Goh Rong Liang and David William Graaskov, all 17 years old, also face additional charges.
Tan faces nine charges, including vandalism and theft of spray cans.
He is accused of committing criminal trespass by climbing over the wall to enter the secured rooftop of Block 85A Lorong 4 Toa Payoh just before midnight on 6 May, and on other occasions between end April and early May.
He is also accused of committing criminal trespass at the premises of Marina Bay Suites at Marina Boulevard and at a construction site at 17 Jalan Rajah.
The other teenagers face similar charges - Koh faces 10 charges, Chay 9, Goh 5 and Graaskov 6.
They may face additional charges pending forensic investigations on digital devices seized.
All the teenagers are represented, except for Tan.
A curfew from 10pm to 6am has also been imposed on the teenagers.
(From left) David William Graaskov, Goh Rong Liang, Chay Nam Shen, Boaz Koh Wen Jie, and Reagan Tan Chang Zhi – all Singaporeans, aged 17 and sporting shaved heads – arriving at the States Court on 10 May 2014.
Elena Chong
The Straits Times
Monday, May 19, 2014
The five teens accused of vandalising the rooftop of an HDB block in Toa Payoh 10 days ago had apparently been up there before, a court heard yesterday.
Between end-April and early this month, Reagan Tan Chang Zhi, Chay Nam Shen, Boaz Koh Wen Jie, David William Graaskov and Goh Rong Liang had all trespassed on the roof that they are now charged with spray painting on May 7.
Fresh charges tendered against the five 17-year-olds also show that they stole four spray cans from a lorry in a carpark in front of Block 54, Lorong 5, late on May 6 before proceeding to the rooftop of Block 85A, Lorong 4, to carry out their graffiti-spraying at about 12.30am the next morning.
Four of them - Goh, Tan, Chay and Koh - are alleged to have committed criminal trespass to gain entry to the roof, while Graaskov is charged with conspiring with them to commit the vandalism.
Tan and Chay are students at the Institute of Technical Education, but it is not known what occupations the other three hold.
All five are also accused of trespassing on secured premises at Marina Bay Suites on Marina Boulevard on March 29.
Three of them - Tan, Chay and Koh - had allegedly gone there earlier in February and used a fire extinguisher at the 65th-storey rooftop of the upscale condominium, causing $70 damage to property.
All except Goh are also alleged to have trespassed at a worksite in Jalan Rajah, off Balestier Road, by climbing over the metal fence, some time between last October and December.
Koh, who faces nine additional charges, is said to have committed another act of vandalism on March 28 by using spray paint to deface the walls of the rooftop of Block 60, Lorong 4 Toa Payoh.
One of the five fresh charges against Graaskov accuses him of removing a reflective vest worth $5 from the rooftop of Block 122 in the same estate.
Tan and Chay each have eight additional charges, and Goh, four.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tang Shangjun told District Judge Eddy Tham that there may be additional charges tendered at a later date.
"We are still reviewing the matter on this. Investigations are not entirely complete yet," he said.
In particular, DPP Tang said police are conducting forensic investigation on digital devices seized.
Goh is represented by Mr Aqbal Singh; Chay by Mr Tan Hee Joek; while Koh and Graaskov are represented by Mr Ravinderpal Singh and Mr Choo Zheng Xi respectively.
Anxious family members were in court to hear the charges being read yesterday.
Each of the accused is out on $12,000 bail on the condition that they remain indoors between 10pm and 6am. The five will be back in court on June 27.
The maximum penalty for vandalism is a $2,000 fine or three years' jail plus three to eight strokes of the cane.
Three of five teens in rooftop vandalism case face fresh charge of criminal trespass
Published on Jun 27, 2014 11:09 AM
By Elena Chong
SINGAPORE - Three of the five 17-year-olds accused of vandalising the rooftop of a Toa Payoh block of flats were given an additional charge of criminal trespass at the rooftop of Bishan MRT station on Friday.
Boaz Koh Wen Jie, Chay Nam Shen and Reagan Tan Chang Zhi are accused of climbing over the wall fencing to enter Bishan MRT station with intent to cause annoyance, sometime between April and June last year.
Koh now faces a total of 11 charges while Chay and Tan each have 10 charges.
The trio, together with Goh Rong Liang and David William Graaskov, had been accused of committing vandalism by using indelible spray paint to spray graffiti at the rooftop of Block 85A, Lorong 4, Toa Payoh at about 12.30am on May 7.
Teen is first among five in Toa Payoh graffiti case to plead guilty to theft, criminal trespass
Published on Dec 24, 2014 12:08 PM
David William Graaskov (center) and his parents and lawyers arriving at the State Courts. The teenager is accused of conspiring with four others to commit vandalism at the rooftop of a HDB block in Toa Payoh on May 7, 2014. He also removed a reflective vest from a HDB rooftop. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
By Elena Chong
SINGAPORE - A teen who was accused of abetting the rooftop vandalism of a Housing Board block in Toa Payoh with spray paint pleaded guilty to theft and criminal trespass on Wednesday.
David William Graaskov, 18, who faced six charges, admitted to three charges - stealing four spray cans of paint from a parked lorry as well as committing criminal trespass at Marina Bay Suites and a construction site in Balestier.
He committed the offences with Boaz Koh Wen Jie, Reagan Tan Chang Zhi and Chay Nam Shen, all 18, whose cases will be mentioned on Jan 28.
A Community Court heard that a resident called the police on May 7 this year about graffiti at the top of Block 85A Lorong 4 Toa Payoh.
Teen in Toa Payoh graffiti case gets 15 months' probation
Published on Jan 26, 2015 10:21 AM
David William Graaskov (centre) with his parents at the courts on Dec 24, 2014. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
By Elena Chong
SINGAPORE - A teen who was accused of abetting the rooftop vandalism of a Toa Payoh Housing Board block was ordered to undergo 15 months' probation on Monday.
David William Graaskov, 18, had pleaded guilty to three of six charges - theft of four spray cans as well as criminal trespass at Marina Bay Suites and a construction site in Balestier.
Four of his alleged accomplices - Boaz Koh Wen Jie, Reagan Tan Chang Zhi, Chay Nam Shen and Goh Rong Liang, all 18, will appear in court on Wednesday for their cases to be mentioned.
A Community Court heard that after Graaskov and the rest had stolen the spray cans worth $12 from a parked lorry in Lorong 5 Toa Payoh on May 6 last year, the group agreed to spray the rooftop of Block 85A at Lorong 4.
The graffiti was splashed across a large flat wall panel on the top of the block, and included expletives directed against a local political party.
Graaskov did not take part in the spraying as he left the group to catch the last bus home.
Investigation showed that Graaskov was also involved in trespassing into the Marina Bay Suites condominium on March 29 last year as well as the construction site in Jalan Rajah sometime between October and December 2013.
District Judge Lim Keng Yeow also ordered Graaskov to stay indoors from 10pm to 6am during his probation period and do 80 hours of community service.
His parents, who were in court, were each bonded for $5,000 to ensure his good behaviour.
The maximum penalty for theft is three years and a fine. For criminal trespass, the maximum penalty is three months' jail and a $1,500 fine on each charge.
Freelance disc jockey Danial Ryan Salleh, 26, had pleaded guilty to vandalising a pillar of Sunshine Plaza; two counts of theft; sex with a minor; and grievously hurting a taxi driver.
The ringleader in the Prinsep Link vandalism case was sentenced to a total of 24 months' jail and three strokes of the cane yesterday.
Freelance disc jockey Danial Ryan Salleh, 26, had pleaded guilty to vandalising a pillar of Sunshine Plaza; two counts of theft; sex with a minor; and grievously hurting a taxi driver.
Ten other charges were considered during his sentencing.
Two of his accomplices - Muhammad Qamarul Arifin Sa'adon, 23, and Muhammad Fadzly Aziz, 22 - were each sentenced to two months' jail and three strokes in August for vandalism.
The court heard that the group had been outside a bus stop in Orchard Road after a movie on Nov 4, 2013, when Danial told them of a call he had received from someone claiming to be an assistant to the leader of hacker group Anonymous.
The caller from Switzerland told him to get a group to spray the words "We Are One. We Are Legion. We Will Never Forgive. We Will Never Forget. Expect Us". This was supposedly in support of the hacker group's fight against the Government.
The group bought two cans of indelible paint from Mustafa Centre. As they passed Sunshine Plaza at about 4am, Danial used black paint to write graffiti on the pillar. Qamarul, Fadzly and Muhammad Fitri Abu Kasim, 25, acted as lookouts. Fitri was later given a 12-month conditional warning.
In the theft cases, Danial had stolen a 12-year-old student's haversack, containing a laptop worth $700, at Costa Sands Resort in June with his accomplice; and an earpiece worth $150 from Million Tech at Sim Lim Square later that month.
The court heard he also had unprotected sex with a 15-year-old girl he had met on social media platform Twitter in mid-November 2013.
On March 19 last year, he kicked the door and wing mirror of a taxi when the driver, Ng Cheng Keong, 61, refused to take him and four other passengers along Sims Avenue.
When Mr Ng told him to stop and tried to call the police, Danial punched him once in his face and grabbed his phone.
When the cabby exited to retrieve his mobile phone, Danial punched him again. Mr Ng suffered facial fractures.
The court backdated Danial's sentence to July 1. He also has convictions for cheating, vehicle theft, drug possession and perverting justice.
Three teens in Toa Payoh rooftop vandalism case plead guilty
Published on Jan 28, 2015 2:31 PM
(From left) Reagan Tan Chang Zhi, Chay Nam Shen and Boaz Koh Wen Jie, all 18, were among five hauled to court last year to face charges of theft, criminal trespass and vandalism. -- PHOTOS: WONG KWAI CHOW, THE NEW PAPER
By Elena Chong
SINGAPORE - Three teenagers who vandalised the rooftop of a Toa Payoh Housing Board block pleaded guilty on Wednesday.
Reagan Tan Chang Zhi, Chay Nam Shen and Boaz Koh Wen Jie, all 18, were among five hauled to court last year to face charges of theft, criminal trespass and vandalism.
On Monday, their friend, David William Graaskov, also 18, was given 15 months' probation for theft of four spray paint cans, and trespassing at the rooftop of up market condominium Marina Bay Suites and a construction site in Balestier. He was the first in the group to plead guilty to his charges.
Tan and Chay, who faced 10 charges each, and Koh, who faced 11 charges, each admitted to five charges.
A Community Court heard that the five, including Goh Rong Liang, were hanging out in Toa Payoh on the evening of May 6 last year when they stole the cans of spray worth $12 from a lorry parked at Lorong 5.
The group decided to go to the rooftop of Block 85A Lorong 4 to spray graffiti. Graaskov, however, left to catch the last bus home at close to midnight.
The remaining four went to the roof, and waited for about 10 minutes. Koh stepped out onto the ledge and sprayed the graffiti on the wall, and the others joined in. Koh even sprayed over the same phrase - an expletive directed against the People's Action Party - as he felt that it was not "dark enough".
After that, they took the lift down, and Koh threw the spray cans down a rubbish chute.
The cost for repainting the vandalised walls was $129.
Further investigations showed the teens were also involved in trespassing at Marina Bay Suites on March 29 last year, and the worksite at Jalan Rajah sometime between October and December 2013.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tang Shangjun cited several aggravating factors such as the escalation of the teens' offences, the significant amount of public disquiet caused and the abusive language used.
Koh, the court heard, had committed the offences while on probation for theft and trespass. He was remanded for progress and reformative training reports until Feb 18, while the other two will be back in court on March 2, pending probation reports.
Goh's case will be mentioned on Feb 9.
The maximum penalty for vandalism is a $2,000 fine or three years' jail plus caning of up to eight strokes.
Last teen in Toa Payoh rooftop vandalism case pleads guilty
Published on Feb 9, 2015 12:05 PM
Goh Rong Liang, 18, a cashier, admitted to four of five charges - one of spraying graffiti on the walls atop Block 85A Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, stealing four cans of spray paint and two of trespassing at the HDB rooftop and Marina Bay Suites last year. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN
By Elena Chong
SINGAPORE - The last teen involved in the Toa Payoh rooftop vandalism case pleaded guilty in a Community Court on Monday.
Goh Rong Liang, 18, a cashier, admitted to four of five charges - one of spraying graffiti on the walls atop Block 85A Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, stealing four cans of spray paint and two of trespassing at the HDB rooftop and Marina Bay Suites last year.
One of the five, David William Graaskov, 18, has been placed on 15 months' probation.
Although Graaskov agreed with his friends - Goh, Reagan Tan Chang Zhi, Chay Nam Shen and Boaz Koh Wen Jie, all 18 - to spray the rooftop of Block 85A, he did not join them as he left the group at 11.50pm on May 6 to catch the last bus home.
(From left) David William Graaskov, Goh Rong Liang, Chay Nam Shen, Boaz Koh Wen Jie, and Reagan Tan Chang Zhi arriving at the States Court on 10 May 2014. Chay and Tan were each given 24 months' probation on Monday. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
By Elena Chong
SINGAPORE - Two 18-year-olds who spray-painted graffiti at the rooftop of an Housing Board block in Toa Payoh with their friends in May last year were each given 24 months' probation on Monday.
Chay Nam Shen and Reagan Tan Chang Zhi, both then students of Institute of Technical Education, were part of a group of five who stole four cans of spray paint from a lorry at a carpark in Lorong 5 Toa Payoh on the night of May 6. It was suggested among the group that they should go and "spray'' the rooftop of Block 85A at Lorong 4.
Chay, Tan, Boaz Koh Wen Jie and Goh Rong Liang proceeded to the rooftop close to midnight that day to commit vandalism, while David William Graaskov left them to catch a bus home. The 18-year-old was placed on 15 months' probation in January for theft and criminal trespass. Goh and Koh have pleaded guilty but have not been sentenced.
The court heard that the graffiti, reported by a resident the next day, was splashed across a large flat wall panel on top of Block 85A, and included expletives directed against a local political party.
Investigation showed that except for Goh, the other four had trespassed at the same rooftop sometime between end April and early May last year.
All five had also entered the secured premises of Marina Bay Suites in Marina Boulevard on March 29 the same year.
Chay, Tan, Koh and Graaskov had also climbed over a metal fencing to enter a construction site in Jalan Rajah between October and December 2013.
In passing sentence, Community Court judge Lim Keng Yeow told the duo that vandalism was the the most serious of the offences before him. The offence carries at least three strokes of the cane and normally several months' jail will be imposed.
Criminal trespass offences were also serious, he said.
He accepted the probation officer's recommendation to place the pair on probation. Both teens will have to do 180 hours of community service, stay indoors from 10pm to 6am and electronically tagged for six months.
Chay's parents as well as Tan's mother and half-brother executed an $8,000 bond respectively to ensure their good behaviour.
Fourth teen in Toa Payoh vandalism case gets probation
Published on Mar 12, 2015 11:33 AM
Goh Rong Liang, 18, a cashier, had admitted to vandalising the rooftop of Block 85A, Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, stealing four cans of spray paint, trespassing into the HDB block as well as Marina Bay Suites. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
By Elena Chong
SINGAPORE - A teenager became the fourth to be given probation on Thursday for his role in the Toa Payoh rooftop graffiti case.
Goh Rong Liang, 18, a cashier, had admitted to vandalising the rooftop of Block 85A, Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, stealing four cans of spray paint, trespassing into the HDB block as well as Marina Bay Suites.
He committed the offences with Boaz Koh Wen Jie, Reagan Tan Chang Zhi, David William Graaskov and Chay Nam Shen, all 18, in March and May last year.
All, except Koh, have been placed on probation. Koh's case will come up for mention again in May.
The five friends, who adopted the name Mikecool for their group, stole the $12 worth of spray paint from a parked lorry at Lorong 5, at about 11.45pm on May 6. Shortly before midnight, Goh, Koh, Tan and Chay went to the rooftop of Block 85A to spray the walls.
Although Graaskov had agreed to take part, he left the group to catch the last bus home.
The court heard that the four managed to trespass into the secured rooftop by climbing through a gap between the walls.
They waited for about 10 minutes for the lights in the opposite unit to go off before they started spraying the walls with expletives directed at the People's Action Party.
Investigations also showed that Goh and his friends committed criminal trespass at the Marina Bay Suites condominium at Marina Boulevard on March 29 last year.
On Thursday, Goh was placed on 21 months' probation. He has to remain indoors from 10pm to 6am and perform 160 hours of community service. His mother and sister signed a bond of $8,000 to ensure his good behaviour.
The maximum penalty for vandalism is a $2,000 fine or three years' jail plus up to eight strokes of the cane.
Last teen in Toa Payoh vandalism case gets probation, prosecution appealing
Published on Jun 8, 2015 4:01 PM
By Elena Chong
SINGAPORE - A teenager who vandalised the rooftop of a Toa Payoh block received another shot at rehabilitation on Monday when he was given 30 months' probation.
Boaz Koh Wen Jie, 18, said to be the most culpable among the five teens involved in the case, had pleaded guilty to five charges of vandalism, theft and criminal trespass and had six others taken into consideration.
The prosecution is appealing against the sentence. It wants the teen to be sent to reformative training instead as he had committed the offences while already on probation for theft and trespass.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tang Shangjun said last week that probation would have limited effect on curbing Koh's mindset towards committing crime. He said probation was not suitable in this case, especially as a serious offence like vandalism had been committed.
Koh is the last of the five accused to be dealt with. The others - Reagan Tan Chang Zhi, Chay Nam Shen, Goh Rong Liang and David William Graaskov, all 18 - have been given probation.
The five were passing the time near Block 85A Lorong 4 Toa Payoh on May 6 last year when they stole four cans of spray paint worth $12 from a lorry parked on nearby Lorong 5.
The group decided to go to the rooftop of Block 85A to spray graffiti. Graaskov, however, left to catch the last bus home at close to midnight.
The remaining four went to the roof, and waited for about 10 minutes. Koh stepped out onto the ledge and sprayed the graffiti on the wall, and the others joined in. Koh even sprayed over the same phrase - an expletive directed against the People's Action Party - as he felt that it was not "dark enough".
After that, they took the lift down, and Koh threw the spray cans down a rubbish chute.
The cost for repainting the vandalised walls was $129.
Further investigations showed the teens were also involved in trespassing at Marina Bay Suites on March 29 last year, and the worksite at Jalan Rajah sometime between October and December 2013.
District Judge Lim Keng Yeow noted that a probation officer's progress report stated that Koh had made "significant changes in his lifestyle" since his release from custody in May last year. The youth committed himself to regular voluntary community service, sought out counselling, and was reported to have progressed well.
"Indeed, this is an exceptional case in terms of the clear indications of remorse, commitment to making amends, level of insight into personal rehabilitate needs, and determination to reform," he said.
The judge made a fresh probation order for 30 months; ordered Koh to observe a curfew, do 240 hours of community service, and undergo residential supervision at The Hiding Place, a half-way house, for 21 months followed by e-tagging for four months or until his enlistment for national service, whichever is earlier.
Judge Lim said the court would not hesitate to revoke the order in favour of reformative training if there was any indication that Koh is actually not worthy of probation and if his progress does not meet expectations.
