Four more Indian nationals charged

SINGAPORE — Another four Indian nationals were charged yesterday with rioting in Little India last Sunday, including the first to be identified for overturning and setting fire to a police vehicle.

Arumugam Karthik, 24 — the youngest of the four charged yesterday — is the first among the 31 hauled to court so far to be accused of damaging an emergency vehicle. Five of the 16 police vehicles damaged in the riot were set on fire.

He is also said to have hurled items such as pieces of concrete and a metal drain cover at the private bus, which reportedly ran over a 33-year-old Indian national before the riot erupted.

The other three — Sellamuthu Elangovan, 45; Ammasi Venkatesan, 27; and Selvarasu Dhanapal, 25 — are accused of throwing pieces of concrete at police officers.

Yesterday, lawyer Amarick Gill — for the third straight day alleged rioters were brought into the dock — told the court on behalf of the Law Society that pro bono legal representation would be available to the four, if they meet conditions under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Norman Yew also said the High Commission of India has made contact with the four.

All the men who have been charged, including the four yesterday, have been remanded pending further police investigations. The next court mention is next week, starting on Tuesday.

If found guilty, the men could be jailed for up to seven years and caned.