Jail for man found loitering around NUS sports centre, 6 penknives found on him
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SINGAPORE – Armed with six penknives, a man loitered around the sports centre of the National University of Singapore in August and threatened to injure a staff member who had confronted him.
Sim Chuan Min, 38, was sentenced to three months’ jail on Oct 23, after he pleaded guilty to one count of criminal intimidation.
A second charge of being in possession of the six weapons in a public place was considered during sentencing.
State Prosecuting Officer (SPO) Ng Chee Wee told the court that on Aug 22, three men, including two employees from the NUS Sports and UTown Management Unit, spotted Sim loitering near a lift lobby at the sports centre at around 11.30am.
One of them recognised Sim as a person of interest, as he had previously trespassed on NUS premises.
They then approached him in an attempt to ascertain his identity and his motive for loitering around the university.
When he refused to provide any information, one of the men called for police assistance.
SPO Ng said: “While waiting for the police’s arrival... the accused removed his slippers. He then took out a penknife and extended the penknife’s blade. The accused held the penknife and picked up his slippers.”
After that, Sim looked at one of the men and uttered: “Go away. I will cut you.”
With the blade still extended, he sprinted past the trio. A CCTV camera at the sports centre recorded the incident.
Two of the men ran after Sim, while the third called the police for the second time.
A few minutes later, the two men caught up with Sim, and one of them used a pipe to knock the penknife from his hand.
They detained Sim until police officers arrived soon after and arrested him.
The officers conducted a search on him and found a plastic bag containing items that included five more penknives and a pair of scissors.
