Kallang slashers: Sarawak worker charged with murder
03 Jun 2010
Source: The Straits Times
THIS is the man police believe is chiefly responsible for the death of an Indian national in the knife-wielding rampage in Kallang early on Sunday morning.
If convicted, Micheal Garing, 22, a general worker from Sarawak, could face the death penalty for killing 41-year-old Shanmuganathan Dillidurai. Micheal was taken before the court yesterday to face the murder charge.
Yesterday evening, another member of the Sarawakian gang, Tony Imba, 31, was arrested on suspicion of murder, bringing the total number of arrests to six. He was picked up at the Golden Mile Food Court.
Joining Micheal in court yesterday were Sylvester Barogok, 25, and Shahman Milak, 21. Both have been charged with gang robbery, which is punishable by up to 20 years in jail plus at least 12 strokes of the cane.
The surprise: The charge was for a robbery that took place last Friday, two days before the orgy of terror which left Mr Shanmuganathan dead and three others wounded in the space of seven hours. Court documents showed that the Friday robbery also took place in the Kallang area, between 9pm and 10pm, under an overhead bridge of Block 41 at Sims Drive.
The gang of Sarawakians, including the three hauled to court yesterday, was alleged to have pounced on Mr Raja Kana Kazi, an Indian national, robbing him of a cellphone, $32, his work permit and ez-link cards.
The document did not say if Mr Raja was injured, but stated that one or more in the gang brandished parangs.
Yesterday’s court appearance is likely to be the first of several to be made by the gang. The three men were arrested on Monday evening in Little India. Two others – Peter Usit Musa, 22, and Hairee Landak, 19 – were caught on Tuesday night making their way into Singapore across the Causeway. Another accomplice, Donny Meluda, 19, remains at large.
District Judge Lim Tse Haw granted the prosecution’s request to remand the three men to facilitate further investigation.
Police had described the attacks as brutal and inhumane. The victims were unknown to the assailants and to one another, and were robbed of small items.
Yesterday evening, police officers, who had mounted a massive manhunt for the attackers, were seen combing through Syed Alwi Road, where several apartments above shop units doubled as workers’ dormitories.
Just after 6pm, three policemen – one with a lock cutter – entered an apartment with three bedrooms and appeared to be breaking the lock of one of the rooms.
About 10 minutes later, they left but did not appear to have taken anything out of the room. The three Sarawakians who were charged yesterday were caught in the area on Monday.
Their neighbours, mostly Chinese nationals, said they did not know the Sarawakians, who worked as cleaners and general workers.
They said about 30 officers had turned up on Monday night. Mr Ka Jian Hua, 29, a driver, said he thought the police were there because someone had lost money.
The employers of the suspects were just as surprised to find out about the arrests.
Hairee’s employer, who runs Naz Cleaning Services, said the man – his only employee from Sarawak – had been working for him for six months. Hairee lived in Johor, he said.
“He usually cleans boutique shops from 8.30am to 1pm, and has generally been a good worker. This is not his first job in Singapore, but I do not know how long he had been working here,” he said.
Over at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre, where Peter works as a fruit packer, his employer, Ms Irene Kee of Lai Soon Fresh Fruits, said he had been staying at her brother’s construction company office at Stirling Road.
“Last week, he had asked for two days off from work to go to Johor Baru for a celebration, and I allowed him to go off for one day on Tuesday,” she said.
She said the Sarawakian had worked as a sweeper before joining the company in July last year. “He was generally quiet and kept to himself at work,” she said.
The suspects
MICHEAL GARING, 22. Status: Facing murder charge.
SHAHMAN MILAK, 21. Status: Facing gang robbery charge.
SYLVESTER BAROGOK, 25. Status: Facing gang robbery charge.
HAIREE LANDAK, 19. Status: Arrested.
PETER USIT MUSA, 22. Status: Arrested.
TONY IMBA, 31. Status: Arrested.
DONNY MELUDA, 19. Status: At large.
