Police prevent gang clash at Toa Payoh, 13 men arrested
Police find kitchen knives and plastic pipes filled with concrete at scene; three more men believed to be on the run
The two groups were allegedly armed with knives and pipes, all set for a violent clash.
But for reasons unknown, they chose to have the confrontation just across the road from Toa Payoh Neighbourhood Police Centre.
The rival gangs, totalling 16 men between 18 and 30 years old, allegedly met at the foot of Block 177 Toa Payoh Central in the early hours of Sept 13.
Before anyone could get hurt, the police arrived, having received a call from a member of public at about 3.45am.
Nine men were arrested at the scene.
Eight of those arrested had attempted to flee in two cars but were stopped at the carpark gantry behind the block.
One more was caught trying to flee on foot.
Seven others were able to escape, but four of them were subsequently arrested after follow-up investigations.
The police seized nine kitchen knives and two plastic pipes filled with concrete at the scene.
Out of the 13 arrested, 11 were charged with illegal assembly with deadly weapons on Sept 14.
The New Paper understands that three more people believed to have been involved in the incident are on the run.
Yesterday, the police took Benjamin Lee Zhe Qing, 21, to the block.
Lee, who was in restraints, was one of the 11 charged.
Dressed in a red polo shirt and dark blue shorts, he was questioned by police investigators at the scene.
He was taken away after around 15 minutes.
The 10 others who have been charged are Chua Longming Byron, 30; Hong Jing Hui, 28; Ernest Leong Zhang Sheng, 27; Ng Zhong Kang, 21; Leong Jun Kai, 21; Ivan Lim Jun Wei, 20; Wang Shiyuan, 19; Glenn Quek Woon Beng, 18; Shawn Quek Han Boon, 20; and Wang Yao Ting, 18.
If convicted, each can be jailed up to five years, and/or fined and caned.
The two others who were arrested are still under investigation.
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