SINGAPORE - A former plumber was on Thursday convicted of assaulting an auxiliary police officer while the latter was trying to suppress the Little India riot, receiving a one year jail term backdated to his arrest on Dec 8.

Indian national Bose Prabakar, 30, is the second man in Singapore to be convicted under Section 152 of the Penal Code, which carries up to eight years in jail and/or a fine. He pleaded guilty to the charge but did not admit to a second charge of rioting, which was considered during his sentencing.

According to court documents, Bose kicked at Officer Muhammad Bohhari Mohd Yusof while trying to break through a gap in the police line during the Little India riot. The officer managed to evade Bose's blow, and the latter was arrested later that night.

Bose is the 16th of 25 men charged with rioting to be dealt with. Thus far, six have been convicted of rioting, and the other 10 - including Bose - have been convicted of amended charges, namely obstruction, assault, unlawful assembly, and failure to disperse. Cases of the remaining nine men are pending in court.