Indian national jailed in Singapore for involvement in riots

A 25-year-old Indian national was today sentenced to one year in prison for assaulting a woman police officer during the country's worst street violence in 40 years.
Periyaiah Ganesan, working in Singapore's construction sector, pleaded guilty to one charge of assaulting 40-year-old Corporal Saadiah Hamzah, who was trying to suppress the riot in Singapore's Little India last year, reported Today newspaper.
Periyaiah was having drinks with two of his friends at Veerasamy Road on December 8 last year, when he received a call from another friend informing him that one of their countrymen had been killed in an accident with a bus.

The trio then headed to the scene of the accident at Race Course Road.
Corporal Saadiah was running back to her car for a shield and helmet when Periyaiah approached her and threw a glass bottle at her. She evaded it and Periyaiah ran into the crowd after she shouted at him.
Periyaiah met up again with his two friends and was arrested the following morning.

The prosecution called for a significant custodial sentence for Periyaiah while defence lawyer Raj Mannar argued that his client's actions were not premeditated and had caused no damage to property or life.
Periyaiah has been in remand since December 10 last year.

Two other people involved in the riots have faced the same charge as him.
Mahalingam Thavamani, who had obstructed a police officer who was trying to disperse an unlawful assembly of people within the precinct, was convicted and jailed for five months.
While Bose Prabakar, who had kicked the shield of an auxiliary police officer, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment.