Two more Indians charged in Singapore for rioting

singapore-riotsSingapore, Dec 17  Two more Indian nationals, aged 35 and 41, were charged Tuesday in connection with the riots in this city-state Dec 8, taking the total number of people charged to 35.

If the men charged in the case are found guilty of rioting they could be jailed for up to seven years and also caned, Today Online reported.

The riots, involving some 400 South Asian workers, broke out after an Indian worker Sakthivel Kumaravelu was killed after being run over by a bus in the Little India ethnic neighbourhood, known for its Tamil cultural elements and aspects of other Indian cultures.

The driver involved in the Dec 8 night accident was charged Dec 10 with causing death by negligence.

Mobs attacked officers who responded to the accident call but police said they did not fire a single shot while trying to bring the situation under control.

It was the biggest riot in Singapore in some 40 years.

Singapore’s Home Affairs Minister Teo Chee Hean Dec 13 appointed a committee of inquiry (COI) to investigate the riots.

The four-member committee is expected to submit its report to the ministry within six months.

G. Pannir Selvam, former judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore, has been appointed the committee chairman.

Other members are former commissioner of police Tee Tua Ba, former president of the Singapore National Trades Union Congress John De Pavya and chairman of the West Coast Citizens Consultative Committee Andrew Chua Thiam Chwee.

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