The Police have arrested a 28-year-old woman for her alleged involvement in a case of voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous means. She was arrested within 4 hours of the incident, on board a ferry that was en route to Indonesia from Singapore.
On 23 March 2023, at about 7.30am, the Police were alerted to a case of a 24-year-old man being scalded by hot water by an unknown subject in the vicinity of Balam Road. Preliminary investigations revealed that the subject had allegedly poured hot water on the man and fled the scene prior to Police’s arrival. The man sustained second-degree burns on his neck and shoulders, and was conscious when conveyed to the hospital. The thermos flask, believed to have been used in the assault was found discarded near the scene by the responding Police officers and was seized.
With the aid of images from Police cameras and coordination between officers from the Police Operations Command Centre, Bedok Police Division, and Police Intelligence Department, it was established that the subject was a 28-year-old woman. Records showed that she had departed Singapore from Singapore Cruise Centre on a ferry, shortly before her identity was established. Investigations revealed that the woman knew the victim and purportedly took steps to conceal her identity, including masking her face during the assault and changing her attire thereafter. The attire that she wore during the assault was also seized.
With the additional assistance of officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Clementi Police Division, and the Police Coast Guard, the ferry was successfully intercepted by PCG shortly before it left Singapore Territorial Waters, with the aid of the PCG maritime surveillance systems which located the position of the ferry. The woman was arrested at about 11.30am on 23 March 2023.
Commander of Bedok Police Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Justin Wong, commended the officers for arresting the suspect even after she had boarded a ferry departing Singapore. He said, “This arrest demonstrates the Police’s ability to apprehend those who try to escape via our maritime borders. The excellent coordination between the various units, including the Police Coast Guard, allowed us to swiftly identify and detain the suspect before she left Singapore waters.”
The 28-year-old woman will be charged in court on 25 March 2023 with the offence of voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous means under Section 324 read with Section 74C of the Penal Code 1871. The offence under Section 324 of the Penal Code carries an imprisonment term of up to seven years, or a fine, or any combination of such punishments, with the possibility of enhanced punishment.
The Police take a zero-tolerance approach towards such acts of violence and will do whatever it takes to apprehend those who blatantly disregard the law.
Thermos flask used in the assault was seized. ▼
Black dress attire worn during the assault was seized. ▼
Accused captured on CCTV at SCC, with changed attire. ▼
Ferry intercepted by Police Coast Guard craft. ▼
Arrest and escort of accused by uniformed officers. ▼
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
25 March 2023 @ 1:05 AM