Two Indians jailed for Little India riots in Singapore

A Singapore court Thursday sentenced two Indians to varying jail terms for rioting in the Little India neighbourhood, in the country's worst rioting in decades Dec 8 last year, a media report said.

Moorthy Kabildev, 25, and Mongan Anbalagan, 41, who were arrested a day after the incident, Thursday pleaded guilty to the charge of rioting, The Straits Times reported.

Kabildev initially faced two charges: one for rioting, and another for causing hurt by allegedly punching bus time-keeper Madam Wong Geck Woon.

Kabildev was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment as he pleaded guilty to the former, while the prosecution withdrew the other charge, according to the Deputy Public Prosecutor Sarah Ong.

Anbalagan admitted to throwing concrete pieces at a bus and in the direction of police vehicles.

Anbalagan was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

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

The Little India riots started at the junction of Race Course Road and Hampshire Road 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 and the violence lasted almost two hours before the 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.

In all, 25 Indian nationals, working in Singapore on permits, were charged with rioting.