Singapore to conduct public hearing into Dec 8 riot

A government-appointed committee will start public hearing from next month into Singapore's worst riots in 40 years, involving South Asian workers, mostly Indians.

Some 400 South Asian workers were allegedly involved in the riots on December 8 night in Singapore's Little India precinct when an Indian worker was killed in a road accident.

The Committee of Inquiry (COI) Secretariat today said it was inviting those who wish to make representations or give evidence to the inquiry to notify it by February 5. The public hearing will start on February 19.

Little India is an area mostly of Indian-origin businesses, eateries and pubs where the South Asian workers spend their day off.

The committee was appointed on December 13, 2013, after the riots. It has since conducted voluntary interviews with 20 of the 56 Indians and one Bangladeshi workers who were deported.

An investigation team from the Central Narcotics Bureau has also been appointed to conduct investigations into the possible causes of the riots.

The team began investigations on December 26. It has since spoken to various witnesses including police officers, residents and shopkeepers in Little India, as well as the driver of the bus involved in the accident and the bus' time- keeper.

At the conclusion of the public hearing, the committee would consider the evidence presented before it and submit a report of its proceedings, findings and recommendations to the Home Affairs Minister.

The four-man committee is headed by former Supreme Court judge G Pannir Selvam.

Its other members are former Commissioner of Police Tee Tua Ba, former President of the Singapore National Trades Union Congress John De Payva and Chairman of West Coast Citizens' Consultative Committee Andrew Chua Thiam Chwee.

Appointing the committee, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean had said it would submit its report within six months.

Twenty-five Indian nationals are facing riot charges in court. The riots left 39 police and civil defence staff injured and 25 vehicles - including 16 police cars - damaged.