Man charged with possessing airsoft gun

SINGAPORE — A 26-year-old man was yesterday charged with possessing an airsoft gun, a type of weapon regulated under the Arms & Explosives Act, that shoots pellets using compressed gas.

Yang Ziyi was charged under the Arms Offences Act yesterday. If found guilty, he faces a jail term of between five and 20 years, and at least six strokes of the cane.

Yang was found with a “Desert Eagle” pistol, a type of airsoft gun, outside a 7-11 convenience store at Pioneer Mall along Jurong West Street 61 at 1.20am on Sunday. He is also believed to be involved in a criminal intimidation case and drug-related offences, police said.

Separately, two others, aged 15 and 17, were arrested on June 11 at Block 116 Yishun Ring Road for carrying an airsoft gun, which was purportedly bought from a 26-year-old man who was arrested the following day in Choa Chu Kang, police said yesterday. Investigations against them are ongoing. ALFRED CHUA