Second Indian jailed in Singapore riots case

A second Indian national was Monday jailed for 15 weeks for allegedly being involved in riots in this city-state Dec 8 last year.

Singaravelu Vignesh, 23, a construction worker, was accused of rioting but he pleaded guilty Monday to an amended charge of "continuing in an assembly after it had been ordered to disperse", the Channel Newsasia reported.

Chinnappa Vijayaragunatha Poopathi, the first of the 25 Indian nationals accused of rioting to be sentenced, was also awarded a 15-week jail term.

Vignesh's sentencing will commence from his arrest Dec 8.

The maximum penalty for rioting in Singapore is a seven-year jail term and caning.

The riots started at the junction of Race Course Road and Hampshire Road in Little India area here around 9.20 p.m. Dec 8 when a private bus knocked down and killed Indian construction worker Sakthivel Kumaravelu, 33.

About 400 people attacked the bus and police and rescue vehicles for two hours before riot police brought the situation under control.

A total of 25 emergency vehicles were damaged, along with five that were set on fire while 39 police officers and four civil defence and auxiliary officers were injured.

Some 25 foreign nationals have so far been charged in court for rioting and at least 52 people deported.