Second man jailed over riot

Construction worker Singaravelu Vignesh was sentenced yesterday to 15 weeks' jail for failing to disperse when ordered to by the police during last December's riot in Little India.

The 23-year-old Indian national, who was originally accused of rioting, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of "continuing in an assembly after it had been ordered to disperse" under Section 151 of the Penal Code.

After less than an hour of deliberation, Deputy Chief District Judge S. Jennifer Marie sentenced Singaravelu to 15 weeks in prison with effect from his arrest on Dec 8.

He could have faced up to two years in jail and/or a fine, as opposed to seven years in jail and caning for rioting.

SECOND TIME

This is believed to be only the second time that Section 151 has been invoked in Singapore.

The only precedent was the case of his friend and fellow construction worker, Chinnappa Vijayaragunatha Poopathi, who last week was the first to be sentenced among the 25 Indian nationals charged in relation to the riot.

Chinnappa had earlier been dealt a 15-week jail term, which was also backdated to his Dec 8 arrest.