Toa Payoh rooftop vandalism case: Last teen pleads guilty

SINGAPORE — The last of five teenagers involved in vandalising the rooftop of a Housing Development Board block in Toa Payoh pleaded guilty today (Feb 9).

Goh Rong Liang, 18, pleaded guilty to four charges of vandalism, theft and criminal trespass. He had one other charge taken into consideration. District Judge Lim Keng Yeow adjourned sentencing to March 12, pending a pre-sentencing report to determine if Goh is fit for probation.

A community court heard that Goh and four accomplices — David William Grasskov, Boaz Koh Wen Jie, Reagan Tan Chang Zhi and Chay Nam Shen, all 18 and who were buddies since primary school — met at Block 85A Lorong 4 Toa Payoh on the evening of May 6 last year. At around 11.45pm, they stole cans of spray paint worth S$12 from a lorry in a carpark nearby and agreed to spray graffiti at the rooftop of Block 85A.

Graaskov then left the party so he could catch the last bus home.

Goh and the rest proceeded to the rooftop at 11.55pm. Although the door to the roof was locked, they managed to climb through the railing at the staircase to reach the rooftop through a small gap.

At about 12.30am, they started spraying profanities targeted at the People’s Action Party and police on the wall in red.

Cost for repainting the vandalised walls amounted to S$129.

Further investigation revealed that the four had trespassed this rooftop twice and Graavskov once. All five had also trespassed into the Marina Bay Suites condominium on Mar 29 last year.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Tang Shangjun said their offences were aggravated by the significant public disquiet that ensued, the use of abusive language, and a clear escalation in their offending record—from “simple criminal trespass” to committing trespass to vandalise.

Defence lawyer Aqbal Singh said Goh, who is the youngest of three children, is at an “impressionable and susceptible” age. His father’s passing in October 2013 also had a traumatic effect on his conduct, said Mr Singh.

Mr Singh added that Goh has shown significant desire to amend his ways since getting help from his lawyers, social workers and a pastor.

The maximum penalty for vandalism is a S$2,000 fine or three years’ jail plus caning of up to eight strokes.

Last month, Graaskov was given 15 months’ supervised probation while Koh, Tan and Chay pleaded guilty to five charges each for vandalism, theft and criminal trespass, with sentencing adjourned.