Accused in checkpoint breach case may face more charges

Tan Chu Seng arriving at the State Courts on March 10, 2014. -- ST FILE PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
Tan Chu Seng arriving at the State Courts on March 10, 2014. -- ST FILE PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG

The 64-year-old Malaysian man who allegedly breached a security barrier at Woodlands Checkpoint is likely to face more charges under the Customs Act.

This was revealed by the prosecution on Monday when Tan Chu Seng was further remanded for another two weeks for psychiatric assessment. Tan, a delivery driver, is represented by Mr S. Radakrishnan who took over from his previous lawyer Jeffrey Ong.

Tan had been accused of committing a rash act and vandalism when he allegedly drove his Singapore-registered car recklessly, causing injury to auxiliary police officer Safie Mahrom at about 4pm on March 8.

The Singapore permanent resident is said to have damaged the cat-claw security barrier when he drove into it. This, after he had apparently driven through the checkpoint after being stopped for a boot check. The security barrier failed to work, which - the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said - had never happened before.

The customs charges have yet to be tendered in court.Tan will be back on April 14.

About two weeks go, Malaysian school teacher Nurul Rohana Ishak, 27, was given a conditional warning by the police "on account of her mental illness'. Ms Nurul was arrested three days after she slipped past immigration at Woodlands Checkpoint on Jan 17.

The prosecution withdrew charges of criminal trespass, failing to present her passport for examination and failing to stop. The native from Kedah was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.

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