Man charged with housebreaking and voluntarily causing hurt to public servant
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SINGAPORE – A 31-year-old man who allegedly hit a police officer after he was arrested in connection with a housebreaking case at a restaurant in Geylang has been charged in court.
Amin Jenid Muhammed Effendi Arriola was charged on Saturday with voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty.
He was also handed a housebreaking charge. The 31-year-old is said to have stolen $121 after entering the Hao Zhang Ji restaurant in Geylang Road through a sliding glass door.
The court heard that Amin has been admitted to Changi General Hospital, but will be remanded after his discharge. He is expected to be back in court on Friday.
In an earlier statement, police said they had received a report of housebreaking at a restaurant in Geylang at about 11.05am on Nov 3.
According to the report, a suspect allegedly kicked and punched a restaurant worker before fleeing the scene.
Through ground inquiries and closed-circuit television footage, officers from Bedok Police Division and Ang Mo Kio Police Division managed to establish the man’s identity.
Police said that when they found the suspect, he allegedly hurled vulgarities and spat at them, and punched one of the officers in the face.
The 42-year-old officer who was hit had minor injuries. He was taken to the hospital conscious and was discharged on the same day, said the police.
They said: “The police have zero tolerance towards such acts of violence towards police officers or public servants who are carrying out their duties. The police will not hesitate to take firm action against those who endanger the safety of our officers.”
The suspect is said to have committed the offences within a three-hour time span.
If convicted, Amin faces a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine for the offence of housebreaking to commit theft.
For voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty, he faces a jail term of up to seven years, and a fine or caning.
