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Graffiti spray-painted on train's exterior; no intrusion was detected at depot
Published on Nov 9, 2014 7:07 AM
File photo of Bishan depot taken in 2013. For the fourth time in four years and the second time this year alone, police were called to an SMRT depot yesterday to investigate a case of possible vandalism. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
By Carolyn Khew
For the fourth time in four years and the second time this year alone, police were called to an SMRT depot yesterday to investigate a case of possible vandalism.
This time, the graffiti is believed to been spray-painted in various colours on the outside of a train at Bishan Depot. It was discovered yesterday morning before the train started service.
Police officers went to the Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 premises after receiving a call at about 6.40am. In the afternoon, the police confirmed they were investigating a case of vandalism and that investigations were ongoing.
The transport operator has been fined a total of $250,000 in the past for security breaches at its depots, which are high-security areas.
The Sunday Times understands that no intrusion was detected at the Bishan Depot yesterday. This means that although the premises have an electronic Fence Intrusion Detection System, it was not triggered, suggesting that the culprits did not break through the fence.
Confirming the incident, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said SMRT discovered the graffiti before the train left the depot to start service. An LTA spokesman said the authority "takes a serious view of the incident" and is working with the police and SMRT on the investigations.
SMRT's vice-president of corporate information and communications, Mr Patrick Nathan, said the transport operator was investigating the incident and assisting the police. He declined to comment further.
When The Sunday Times visited the depot yesterday afternoon, there was a police vehicle and three police officers stationed near the entrance. However, the media were not allowed in.
Since 2010, SMRT has had to deal with repeated vandalism incidents at the Bishan and Changi depots.
In May 2010, two vandals cut through the fence of SMRT's Changi depot and spray-painted graffiti on one side of a train. One of them, Swiss national Oliver Fricker, was given seven months' jail and three strokes of the cane, while his accomplice, Briton Lloyd Dane Alexander, remains at large.
Then, in August 2011, a hole was cut in the fence at the Bishan depot and the words "Jet Setter's" were spray-painted on one of the trains.
On May 5 this year, a red scrawl was discovered on a train before it left the Bishan depot for service. The police took fingerprints of SMRT staff working on the morning the train was found vandalised. Investigations for that incident are still ongoing.
After the second incident in 2011, SMRT faced strong criticism from politicians and the public. The train operator attributed the second incident to a security lapse, which took place due to human error.
It was reported in September this year that a new Fence Intrusion Detection System had been put in place at SMRT's Ulu Pandan, Bishan and Changi depots.
More lights and surveillance cameras were also installed to enable security staff to pinpoint the exact location of an intrusion and capture it on video.
MP Seng Han Thong, who is deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, expressed concern yesterday over the latest incident at Bishan Depot.
"Some members of the public may think that Bishan Depot is an easy target," he said.
"I really hope that SMRT and LTA will review and enhance the system so that it does not happen again."
Graffiti found on train at Bishan depot; police, SMRT and LTA investigating latest incident
Published on Nov 8, 2014 2:45 PM
File photo of Bishan depot taken in 2013. Graffiti on the exterior of a train was discovered at Bishan depot early Saturday morning, before it was put into service, the Land Transport Authority has revealed. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
SINGAPORE - Graffiti on the exterior of a train was discovered at Bishan depot early Saturday morning, before it was put into service, the Land Transport Authority has revealed. The incident was reported to the police and the LTA said it takes a serious view of the incident.
This is believed to the fourth instance of vandalism which SMRT has encountered in four years. The first case was in May 2010, when two vandals cut through the fence of SMRT's Changi depot and spray-painted graffiti on one side of a train. One of them, Swiss national Oliver Fricker, was given seven months' jail and three strokes of the cane, while his accomplice, Briton Lloyd Dane Alexander, remains at large.
In August 2011, a hole was cut in the fence at the Bishan depot, and the words "Jet Setter's" were spray-painted on one of the trains.
Two German men charged with vandalism at SMRT Bishan depot
Published on Nov 22, 2014 10:05 AM
The two German men, Andreas Von Knorres (right) and Elton Hinz (left), both 21, were arrested in Kuala Lumpur International Airport for their suspected involvement in vandalising an SMRT train at Bishan Depot earlier this month. -- PHOTOS: WONG KWAI CHOW
By Samantha Boh
SINGAPORE - Two German men were charged on Saturday morning with the vandalism of an SMRT train and trespassing at Bishan Depot in November.
Andreas Von Knorres and Elton Hinz, both aged 21, will be remanded at Tanglin Police division for a week with the permission to be taken out to assist in investigations and to reenact the scene.
They will next appear at the State Court on Nov 28.
The men were arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Friday as they were about to depart for Australia.
Von Knorres and Hinz are believed by police to have left Singapore for an unspecified destination on Nov 8 shortly after vandalising the train.
They were later located in Bangkok by the Royal Thai Police and then in Kuala Lumpur by the Royal Malaysia Police.
If convicted of vandalism, they face up to three years in jail or a fine of up to $2,000 and between three and eight strokes of the cane.
And if convicted of trespassing into a protected area, they face up to two years in jail or a fine of up to $1,000 or both.
German duo face two more charges of entering Bishan SMRT depot
Published on Nov 28, 2014 11:01 AM
The two German men, Andreas Von Knorres (right) and Elton Hinz (left), both 21, were arrested in Kuala Lumpur International Airport for their suspected involvement in vandalising an SMRT train at Bishan Depot earlier this month. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
By Elena Chong
SINGAPORE - The two Germans accused of trespassing and vandalising an SMRT train at Bishan depot earlier this month were charged with two more counts of entering a protected place without authorisation on Friday.
Andreas Von Knorre and Elton Hinz, both 21, are said to have entered the depot in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 on Nov 6 at 2.43am and the next day at about 2.20am.
They have been charged with entering the depot on Nov 8 at 2.48am and using indelible spray paint to spray graffiti on the left exterior cabin of the train.
Mr Christopher Bridges is representing the pair.
He is overseas and a fellow lawyer John Abraham mentioned the case on his behalf.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Timotheus Koh told the court that the pair face charges with serious consequences.
"They are both foreigners and on social visit passes... no ties, no assets in Singapore and are assessed as flight risk,'' he said.
Bail of $100,000 in one surety or $50,000 in two sureties is offered.
Mr Koh said their passports will remain with the police and that the bailors have to be Singaporeans. Mr Abraham said he understood from Mr Bridges that the pair are likely to "take a certain course'", meaning to plead guilty.
A pre-trial conference is fixed for Dec 17. If convicted of vandalism, they could be fined up to $2,000 or jailed for up to three years plus three to eight strokes of the cane each. The maximum punishment for entering a protected place is a $1,000 fine and two years on each charge.
The incident at the Bishan Depot on Nov 8 was the fourth case of vandalism at SMRT's depots since 2010, and the second this year.
Elena Chong, Carolyn Khew The Straits TimesMonday, Dec 01, 2014
The two German nationals accused of vandalising a train at SMRT's Bishan depot earlier this month had apparently entered the protected place on three separate occasions.
Andreas Von Knorre and Elton Hinz, both 21, yesterday faced two more charges of entering the depot without authorisation on Nov 6 at 2.43am and at about 2.20am the next day.
Both were charged last Saturday with trespassing into the depot on Nov 8 and spraying graffiti on the exterior of the SMRT train between 2.48am and 3.29am.
They are believed to have left Singapore for an unspecified destination on the same day. The Malaysian police eventually arrested them at Kuala Lumpur International Airport last Thursday, and the duo were extradited to Singapore.
Member of Parliament Vikram Nair, who sits on the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Home Affairs and Law, said it was worrying if they trespassed into the depot not just once, but thrice. "The lapses are signs that there was a vulnerability, which ought to be addressed. SMRT should investigate the matter."
MP Lim Biow Chuan, a member of the GPC for Transport, urged SMRT to review its security measures with "greater urgency".
He said: "It is disappointing that despite the enhanced security that was supposed to be at the depot, these two persons could apparently effect entry three times."
When contacted, SMRT said it is assisting with investigations and declined further comment. Its security provider Certis Cisco also said it could not comment.
Yesterday, Mr John Abraham told District Judge May Mesenas he was mentioning the case on behalf of the pair's lawyer Christopher Bridges. The Straits Times understands that Mr Bridges, with German Embassy staff, went to see both men briefly at Tanglin Police Division on Thursday.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Timotheus Koh said the duo face charges with serious consequences.
"They are both foreigners and on social visit passes; no ties, no assets in Singapore... assessed as flight risk," he said.
He asked that bail of $100,000 in one surety or $50,000 in two sureties be offered, and that the sureties be Singaporeans. However, no one posted bail for the duo.
Both defence and prosecution will meet to sort out the matter further before the two men make their plea. A pre-trial conference is fixed for Dec 17.
The incident at Bishan depot on Nov 8 was the fourth case of vandalism at SMRT's depots since 2010, and the second this year.
If convicted of vandalism, the duo could be fined up to $2,000 or jailed for up to three years, and given between three and eight strokes each.
The maximum penalty for entering a protected place is a $1,000 fine and two years' jail.
Bishan Depot vandalism case fixed for another pre-trial conference next month
Published on Dec 17, 2014 4:02 PM
The case of the two German nationals, Andreas Von Knorre (left) and Elton Hinz, charged with breaking into the SMRT Bishan depot three times and vandalising a train last month is scheduled for another pre-trial conference on Jan 14. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
By Elena Chong
SINGAPORE - The case of the two German nationals charged with breaking into the SMRT Bishan depot three times and vandalising a train last month is scheduled for another pre-trial conference on Jan 14.
Mr Christopher Bridges, who is representing Andreas Von Knorre and Elton Hinz, both 21, told reporters on Wednesday that he will be making further representations to the Attorney General's Chambers.
The prosecution has offered to proceed on three of the four charges against his clients.
"So far, my instructions are to take a certain course,'' he said.
Mr Bridges said he has seen his clients twice and another two times via video-link.
The pair, who are now in remand at Changi Prison, are alleged to have trespassed into the depot on Nov 8 and spraying graffiti on the exterior of the SMRT train between 2.48am and 3.29am.
They are said to have entered the protected place earlier on Nov 6 at 2.43am and at about 2.20am on Nov 7.
They were arrested by Malaysian police at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and extradited to Singapore.
Both are working in Australia and were on holiday here at the time of the alleged offences.
If convicted of vandalism, they could be fined up to $2,000 or jailed for up to three years plus three to eight strokes of the cane each. The maximum punishment for entering a protected place is a $1,000 fine and two years on each charge.
