Serial offender admits hurling vulgarities at safe distancing enforcement officers, policemen

SINGAPORE — A 53-year-old man with a lengthy criminal record dating back to the 1980s pleaded guilty on Wednesday (April 29) to breaching Covid-19 circuit breaker measures earlier this month.

Ravi Sinathamby Subramaniam hurled vulgarities at police officers on April 14, before verbally abusing two safe distancing enforcement officers four days later while wearing a face mask that only covered his chin.

Ravi admitted to two charges of using abusive words towards a public servant and one count of criminal intimidation. 

Another five charges, including two under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020, will be taken into consideration for sentencing on May 6.

The court heard that on April 14, two police officers responded to a 999 call at Hao Minimart at Block 74 Whampoa Drive.

When they got there, they saw Ravi standing in the queue and reeking of alcohol, holding an open can of beer. 

He had earlier met a friend — who did not live with him — for a chat, and was complaining loudly about why the queue was not properly organised.

When the policemen tried to interview Ravi, he turned aggressive and tried to leave several times. This attracted attention from members of the public, who crowded around to observe the scene he was making, said Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Timotheus Koh.

He then hurled vulgarities at the police officers, including: “I use the court to f*** you all back.”

The officers had to use force to restrain him and he continued shouting vulgarities even after he was handcuffed.

He was released, but got into trouble again four days later.

On April 18 at about 1pm, Ravi was queuing to get food at a coffee shop at Block 81 Whampoa Drive.

When two safe-distancing enforcement officers noticed that he was wearing his face mask the wrong way, they asked that he cover his nose and mouth with it.

Ravi turned aggressive and scolded them, saying, among other things: “Don’t let me see you again, if not, I will break your face.” 

Fearing that he would attack them, one of the officers called the police. 

He then entered a convenience store but left shortly after, telling the officers once more that he would break their faces.

DPP Koh told the court that Ravi had a history of possessing and trafficking controlled drugs, and had been in and out of the Drug Rehabilitation Centre for the last three decades.

In 2007, he was sentenced to three years’ jail and given six strokes of the cane for snatch theft. 

In 2010, he was jailed 10 years and given 15 strokes, also for snatch theft.

Most recently, he was jailed 16 weeks in December last year for breaching a personal protection order and threatening his brother with a chopper. 

DPP Koh sought at least 10 months’ jail for Ravi’s most recent offences, saying that he had reoffended barely four months after his last conviction.

“He potentially put law-abiding citizens at risk by failing to heed or comply with (circuit breaker) measures,” the prosecutor added.

In mitigation, Ravi, who did not have a lawyer, apologised to the victims and said he could not control his drinking, which he had used to replace his drug habits.

“I (get) drunk and do this type of thing, sir. Give me one chance… I promise that when I come out, I won’t drink already,” he added while sobbing.

For using abusive words towards a public servant, he could be jailed up to a year, fined up to S$5,000, or both. 

For committing criminal intimidation by threatening to cause grievous hurt, he could be jailed up to 10 years, fined, or both.