Indian jailed for New Year Eve rioting in Singapore

A 25-year-old Indian national was today sentenced to three-and-a-half-years in jail in Singapore for his involvement in a New Year rioting incident that ended up in the death of his compatriot and wounded four others.
Raja Arul was spared from caning, in addition to the jail term, as District Judge Jasvender Kaur found his role was limited in the December 31, 2012 incident at the Jurong Lake Park, a popular picnic spot in the west coast industrial zone.
Raja and his friends had gathered at the park to celebrate the New Year and had alcohol and food with them. Another group, to which the deceased belong, had similar plans, the court heard.

The members of the second group got drunk and increasingly rowdy, annoying and forcing Raja and his friends to move away.
However, a member of the second group noticed Raja and his friends staring at them and confronted them.
Offended by the vulgarities used by the drunken men, Raja's group called for "back-up". Two more friends arrived at the park and Raja was sent to meet them and lead them back to the group, according to a report by Channel News Asia.

A member of Raja's group, Bose Muruganandham, 34, suggested beating the other group up.
The attackers, armed with long wooden poles, charged at the victims, hitting them till several fell to the ground.

Boobalan Palanikumar, then 24, was struck several times on his head and body before the attackers fled. He was found motionless and bleeding profusely from an open head wound.
A CT scan found that he had extensive skull fractures and a "very swollen brain." He died the next day.
The prosecutor sought a sentence of four years' jail and five cane strokes, saying even though Raja did not attack the deceased, he was part of the group "from beginning to end".
Raja's lawyer James Selvaraj said his client was "profoundly remorseful" and that he was "least culpable", having not used any weapon that night and only pushing a member of the rival group down.

Judge Kaur allowed Raja's sentence to be backdated to January 3, 2013, when he was charged. He has been in remand for over two years.
For rioting, Raja could have been jailed up to seven years and caned. His friends, who were with him that night, have been charged and are claiming trial.