Two more jailed for role in Little India riot

SINGAPORE — Two more Indian nationals were sent behind bars yesterday for their involvement in the Little India riot in December 2013.

Rajendran Mohan, 26, was jailed 27 months for rioting and committing an offence of mischief against a motorbus. His co-accused Sathiyamoorthy Sivaraman, 27, was sentenced to prison for 25 months for the same offence. District Judge Ong Hian Sun was not persuaded the sentencing threshold for caning had been crossed in both cases.

A district court heard that Rajendran was heading back to his dormitory after drinks with friend on Dec 8, 2013, when he noticed a police vehicle ablaze in the middle of Race Course Road. Another police vehicle had overturned and a large group of South Asians had gathered in the area.

At about 10.50pm, Rajendran joined a group of at least five others and threw objects such as a plastic crate and burning objects at a motorbus on the road. He also tried in vain to topple the bus by kicking and pushing it. Rajendran was arrested at the scene and he was caught on CCTV cameras.

Calling for a deterrent sentence, Deputy Public Prosecutor Santhra Aiyyasamy said Rajendran had a clear intention to burn the bus and persistent disregard for authority. But the judge was not persuaded that Rajendran’s acts were more egregious than those of several others caned for having more central roles in the riot. Kelly Ng