Parents to bail out NUS student accused of deflating car tyres and leaving flyers about evils of SUVs
A National University of Singapore (NUS) student was charged in court on Nov 21 with public nuisance after allegedly committing a series of mischief to vehicles.
The police were alerted to the case on Nov 19 at about 12.50pm after a car owner discovered that her vehicle's four tyres had been deflated at a multi-storey carpark at Woodlands Drive 14.
A flyer placed on the windscreen explained why the tyres were deflated by pointing out the evils of sports utility vehicles (SUVs), such as causing more air pollution than smaller cars.
"SUVs are unnecessary and pure vanity," said the flyer.
"That's why we have taken this action. You will have no difficulty getting around without your gas guzzler, with walking, cycling or public transit."
Police said in a news release that preliminary investigations revealed that at least four other vehicles in the vicinity were affected by the same act.
One of the SUV owners shared online a note from the police that said: "There is someone going around to deflate SUVs tyre and leaving a leaflet as part of their 'Green' movement. We are currently investigating the case."
With the aid of images from police cameras, officers from Woodlands Police Division established the identity of the suspect and arrested him within eight hours of the report.
Benjamin Chia Yit Loong, 23, purportedly committed the offences between 10am and noon on Nov 19, at the multi-storey carparks at Block 517A and Block 519A Woodlands Drive 14.
Chia is remanded at Woodlands Division and attended court proceedings through video-link on Nov 21, reported The Straits Times.
The bespectacled and bearded NUS student was clad in a blue T-shirt and was handcuffed.
His lawyer Anil Sandhu said it was now the exam period and asked for the next mention of the case to be after his exams.
The lawyer added that Chia's parents were in court and would bail him out.
The offence of public nuisance carries an imprisonment term of up to three months, a fine of up to $2,000 or both.
