The Police have arrested a 37-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a case of criminal trespass and defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class.
On 12 November 2020 at about 10.50am, the Police received a report that a statue in the courtyard of a church along Upper Serangoon Road was defaced. Through ground investigations and with the aid of images from CCTV cameras, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 18 November 2020.
The man will be charged in court on 20 November 2020 with criminal trespass under Section 447 of the Penal Code and defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class under Section 295 of the Penal Code. The offence of criminal trespass carries an imprisonment term which may extend to three months, a fine which may extend to $1,500, or both. The offence of defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class carries an imprisonment term which may extend to five years, a fine, or both. The Police will seek a court order to remand the man at the Institute of Mental Health.
The Police do not condone acts that insult the religious harmony at the places of worship of any class in Singapore and perpetrators will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
20 November 2020 @ 8:30 AM