Woodlands Checkpoint breach: Driver charged in Singapore with rash act and vandalism

[Untouchables]

Woodlands Checkpoint breach: Driver charged in Singapore with rash act and vandalism

Published on Mar 10, 2014

Tan Chu Seng (centre), 64, is accused of committing a rash act by driving the Mercedes-Benz recklessly on March 8, causing injury to a police officer. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG

By Elena Chong

SINGAPORE - A Mercedes-Benz driver, who allegedly breached a security barrier at Woodlands Checkpoint meant to stop unauthorised vehicles from entering Singapore, was charged in court on Monday.

Tan Chu Seng, 64, is accused of committing a rash act by driving the Mercedes-Benz recklessly on Saturday, causing injury to police officer Safie Mahrom. The Singapore permanent resident from Malaysia also faces a single charge of vandalism after he allegedly drove into the cat-claw security barrier, damaging it.

Both offences took place at Woodlands, one of the busiest land immigration checkpoints in the world. The court on Monday granted the prosecution's request for the accused to be remanded at Jurong Police Division for a week for further investigations.

Tan had asked for a shorter remand of four days, saying he suffers from hypertension, urine acid and diabetes, but his request was rejected by the court. Instead, the district judges instructed him to inform police investigators about his condition.

Get the full story from The Straits Times.

 

[sochi2014]

Re: Woodlands Checkpoint breach: Driver charged in Singapore with rash act and vandal

Ah pek finally calls it a day to retire in government funded retirement plan.

 

[lianbeng]

Re: Woodlands Checkpoint breach: Driver charged in Singapore with rash act and vandal

lianbeng replies: this Malaysian SPR ahpek wanted to try what the other Malaysian woman did but didn't make it! nice try ahpek!

 

[scbccb]

Re: Woodlands Checkpoint breach: Driver charged in Singapore with rash act and vandal

-.. .- ..-. -

 

[Untouchables]

Re: Woodlands Checkpoint breach: Driver charged in Singapore with rash act and vandal


Updated: 03/10/2014 10:09 | By Channel NewsAsia

Man who allegedly crashed through Woodlands Checkpoint charged

SINGAPORE: The 64-year-old Malaysian driver who allegedly crashed through the security barrier at Woodlands Checkpoint and entered Singapore on Saturday is facing two charges.

Tan Chu Seng, who is also a Singapore permanent resident, is accused of committing two offences -- one count of acting rashly and another of vandalism.

As he arrived at the State Courts, Tan was all smiles as he greeted the media from the police car.

He was arrested on Saturday some five hours after he allegedly breached security at the Woodlands Checkpoint at about 4pm.

On Monday, Tan was charged with one count of acting rashly, by driving his Singapore-registered Mercedes-Benz recklessly and hurting officer Safie Mahrom.

He is alleged to have done so while driving through the arrival car channel and trying to escape vehicle inspection, and for that, Tan is looking at a maximum penalty of a jail term of one year and S$5,000 fine.

Tan faces a second charge of vandalism for allegedly damaging government property when driving his car onto the cat-claw security barrier just before he entered Singapore.

If convicted of vandalism, Tan can be jailed up to three years or fined a maximum of S$2,000.

Both alleged offences are said to have been committed at Woodlands Checkpoint, after his arrival from Malaysia.

During the speedy court session, the prosecution asked for Tan to be further remanded in jail for one week to assist with police investigations.

But Tan requested to be remanded for only four days, citing health reasons including diabetes and hypertension.

The court has asked Tan to raise the issue with the investigating officer.

The case will be mentioned again on March 17. - CNA/nd

 

[Untouchables]

Re: Woodlands Checkpoint breach: Driver charged in Singapore with rash act and vandal

 

[SibeiKuaiLan]

Re: Woodlands Checkpoint breach: Driver charged in Singapore with rash act and vandal


Barrier-crashing driver sent to IMH

Tan Chu Seng(centre) arriving at the State Courts on 10 March 2014.

Elena Chong
MyPaper
Tuesday, Mar 18, 2014

SINGAPORE - The 64-year-old motorist accused of breaching a security barrier at Woodlands Checkpoint was remanded for psychiatric assessment yesterday.

Tan Chu Seng, a Malaysian, was charged with committing a rash act and vandalism last week for driving his Singapore-registered car recklessly, causing injury to police officer Safie Mahrom.

The Singapore permanent resident is said to have damaged the cat-claw security barrier when he drove onto it. This took place after he had apparently driven through the checkpoint around 4pm on March 8 after being stopped for a boot check.

The security barrier failed to work - the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said this had never happened before.

Tan was represented by Mr Jeffrey Ong, who has been hired by his family. Mr Ong did not object to the prosecution's application to remand Tan at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). He will return to court on March 31.

If convicted of committing a rash act, Tan could be jailed for up to one year and/or fined up to $5,000. For vandalism, the maximum penalty is a $2,000 fine or three years' jail.

The case against Tan comes after prosecutors decided last week to withdraw charges against Malaysian school teacher Nurul Rohana Ishak "on account of her mental illness". She was instead issued with a conditional warning by the police not to commit similar offences in the future.

Ms Nurul was arrested three days after she slipped past immigration at Woodlands Checkpoint on Jan 17 and faced charges of criminal trespass, failing to present her passport for examination and failing to stop her car.

A psychiatric assessment at IMH on Feb 21 found her to be suffering from schizophrenia and unfit to make a plea.

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[rolleyez]

Re: Woodlands Checkpoint breach: Driver charged in Singapore with rash act and vandal


Man in alleged checkpoint breach to face more charges

Tan Chu Seng arriving at court last month. The delivery driver was remanded for another two weeks for psychiatric assessment.

Elena Chong
The Straits Times
Thursday, Apr 03, 2014

The 64-year-old Malaysian man who allegedly breached a security barrier at Woodlands Checkpoint is likely to face more charges under the Customs Act.

This was revealed by the prosecution on Sunday when Tan Chu Seng was further remanded for another two weeks for psychiatric assessment.

Tan, a delivery driver, is represented by Mr S. Radakrishnan who took over from his previous lawyer Jeffrey Ong.

Tan had been accused of committing a rash act and vandalism when he allegedly drove his Singapore-registered car recklessly, causing injury to auxiliary police officer Safie Mahrom at about 4pm on March 8.

The Singapore permanent resident is said to have damaged the cat-claw security barrier when he drove into it.

This, after he had apparently driven through the checkpoint after being stopped for a boot check.

The security barrier failed to work, which the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said had never happened before.

The customs charges have yet to be tendered in court. Tan will be back on April 14.

About two weeks go, Malaysian school teacher Nurul Rohana Ishak, 27, was given a conditional warning by the police "on account of her mental illness".

Ms Nurul was arrested three days after she slipped past immigration at Woodlands Checkpoint on Jan 17.

The prosecution withdrew charges of criminal trespass, failing to present her passport for examination and failing to stop.

The Kedah native was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.