3 men who allegedly chanted gang slogans at Havelock Road funeral procession charged in court

SINGAPORE — Three purported secret society members who allegedly chanted gang slogans during a funeral procession along Havelock Road last year were charged on Thursday (Jan 20) with multiple offences, including breaching Covid-19 laws.

The men hauled to court were:

• Young Chin Peng, 63
• Adrian Chua Yong Han, 46
• Chiau Chee Meng, 53

Court documents showed that the procession took place on May 26 last year at about 3.30pm. No details were given on whose funeral it was.

The three Singaporeans are all accused of being members of an unlawful society. They also allegedly failed to wear face masks both at the procession and at the funeral wake held at Block 50A Commonwealth Drive earlier that day.

Young is said to have belonged to the Sio Gi Ho gang since 1972, while Chua was charged with being a member of the same secret society from mid-1997.

Chiau was purportedly a member of the Gi Tong Seng triad society from 1994, court documents showed.

Video footage of the incident had circulated online, showing a man in a dark-coloured shirt shouting and raising his hands in the middle of a funeral procession. At least one other man shouts back, and several people can be also seen gathering around the hearse.

In an earlier statement, the police said that they had arrested three men after the incident for allegedly chanting gang slogans and displaying hand signs to show off their secret society affiliation.

Young, Chua and Chiau indicated their intention to plead guilty and will return to court on Feb 28.

Those convicted of being a member of an unlawful society can be fined up to S$5,000 or jailed for up to three years, or given both penalties.

Those who breach Covid-19 laws can be jailed for up to six months or fined up to S$10,000, or punished with both.