May 26, 2011
4 youths admit to attacking off-duty cop
By Khushwant Singh
On Thursday, Desmond Lee Soon Kiat and Chua Lian Heng, both 16, and Godfrey Howe Ze Wei and Tan Ru Seng, both 20, pleaded guilty to being part of an unlawful assembly that had injured Sergeant Muhd Alfian Roslan. He sustained bruises and a chipped tooth. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
A BIRTHDAY celebration last December ended up with a group of seven youths assaulting another customer at a restaurant along Bencoolen Street. The victim shouted out that he was a police officer and even scrambled back to his table to get his warrant card, which was in his bag. The attackers were not deterred. They only fled - after someone else shouted: 'Police'.
On Thursday, Desmond Lee Soon Kiat and Chua Lian Heng, both 16, and Godfrey Howe Ze Wei and Tan Ru Seng, both 20, pleaded guilty to being part of an unlawful assembly that had injured Sergeant Muhd Alfian Roslan. He sustained bruises and a chipped tooth.
District Judge Roy Neighbour ordered for pre-sentence reports to gauge the offenders' suitability for probation or reformative training. Sentencing is set for June 24, 2011. Three alleged accomplices have not been dealt with yet.
The court heard that the group were celebrating Tan's 20th birthday on the evening of Dec 14. In the early hours of the following day, they were at the Al-Jilani restaurant for supper. Mr Muhd Alfian, 24, was eating with his girlfriend in the smoking section when one of the youths' girlfriends started vomiting nearby.
Howe, who was with her, became angry when Mr Muhd Alfian suggested taking her away. A row erupted between the two men. When the off-duty cop stood up, he was attacked by Howe's group.
Lawyers for the four offenders told the court that the assault was an unfortunate incident that marred a happy occasion. All four are out on $10,000 bail each.
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