S$5,000 fine for man caught in video using 'highly abusive' language at Shashlik Restaurant staff

SINGAPORE — A 54-year-old man who was caught in a viral video spewing profanities at a staff member of Shashlik Restaurant was fined the maximum of S$5,000 under the Protection from Harassment Act. 

A video, which went viral in June last year, showed Greg Austin Lynn yelling expletives and threats to sexually assault the family of a male staff member from the Russian-Hainanese restaurant located in Orchard Road. 

Lynn, who is American, pleaded guilty to one count of intentionally causing harassment and one count of using criminal force for pushing the restaurant owner. 

Two other charges of intentionally causing harassment and refusing to sign a police statement were taken into consideration for sentencing. 

While he originally planned to contest the four charges against him in August last year, Lynn decided to plead guilty instead when he appeared in State Courts on Monday (Jan 8) on the first day of his trial. 

Lynn had previously refused the prosecution’s offered plea deal and opted to claim a trial and told the court that the matter had “dragged on” in order to intentionally inflict harm on him. 

WHAT HAPPENED 

On 18 June 2023, Lynn called the restaurant at around 8.30pm to enquire about its last order timing and was told by restaurant manager and owner Tan Tong Kein that last orders would be taken at 9pm. 

The court heard that Mr Tan later called Lynn again to reiterate that last orders would be taken at 9pm and Lynn was unhappy at being disturbed by Mr Tan. 

Despite being informed twice that the kitchen would be closed, Lynn arrived at the restaurant at around 9.08pm and became angry after Mr Tan again explained that the kitchen was closed. 

In closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage played in court, Lynn was seen standing and speaking to the victim, Mr Tan, before pushing him, which caused him to stumble backwards.

Mr Tan then asked his staff to call the police as Lynn continued to speak loudly and use vulgarities at him. 

The commotion attracted the attention of an off-duty police officer in the restaurant who tried to defuse the situation by taking the American man to a table and sitting with him.

After another customer confronted him, Lynn shouted abusive words to Mr Tan, in which he threatened to close his establishment down and sexually assault “every family member (he's) got from here to China”, which was caught on a mobile phone video taken by a patron.  

Lynn told the court that he did not make a reservation at the restaurant but hoped that he could make it in time for the last order.

As Lynn arrived past the time for the last order, Lynn said that he did not plan to eat but wanted to see the restaurant and its menu, as he planned to have a party related to the Ukraine-Russia war.  

He clarified that he had also asked the restaurant staff to call the police to help "sort out the situation" as he was unfamiliar with how to call the authorities in Singapore.

USE OF HIGHLY INSULTING AND ABUSIVE LANGUAGE: DPP 

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Ryan Lim sought a S$5,000 fine for the charge of intentionally causing harassment, which is the maximum fine for such an offence, and a S$500 fine for using criminal force. 

The maximum fine for the harassment charge was necessary as the words used by Lynn were “highly insulting and abusive” and communicated in a “highly aggressive” manner in a public place where families and children were present, said DPP Lim. 

He added that there was an “element of violence” to Lynn’s words, such as when he said “I will drop every f***ing last one of you” and threatened to harm the victim’s business and his family. 

While he acknowledged that Lynn had decided to plead guilty, DPP Lim said this was on the “doorstep” of a trial and that the accused's behaviour “has no place in Singapore”. 

In a shaky voice, Lynn interrupted DPP Lim and said he wanted to accept the fine amount in full and also offered to make S$3,000 in restitution to the restaurant owner for his actions, which he called “unforgivable”. 

“I have been trying to figure out how I could’ve gotten so angry, maybe it’s culture shock, miscommunication, timing, I don’t know,” he said. 

In sentencing, District Judge Wong Peck agreed with the prosecution that a total fine of S$5,500 would be reasonable for his “totally unacceptable” actions. 

Judge Wong added that his comments to the restaurant owner were racially charged, which was “something we will not tolerate in Singapore”.

Those found guilty of intentionally causing harassment could be fined up to S$5,000 or jailed up to six months.

For using criminal force on another person, Lynn could have been jailed up to three months or fined S$1,500, or both.