SINGAPORE — Two men behind a slashing attack at Boon Lay, which later went viral on social media, have been sentenced to jail terms and caning. 

Muhammad Sajid Saleem, 21, was sentenced to 36 months’ jail and six strokes of the cane. He had pleaded guilty on Nov 2 to one charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a weapon to Mr Praveen Raj Chanthiran, 23. 

He also pleaded guilty to a single charge of being a secret society member from July 2020 to December 2021. Three other similar charges were taken into consideration. 

His accomplice, a 20-year-old man, was sentenced to 39 months’ jail and six strokes of the cane.

He was also fined S$1,800 and disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licenses for 12 months. 

He had pleaded guilty to six charges, including causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon, driving without a valid driving licence and being a member of an unlawful society. Ten other charges were taken into consideration. 

He cannot be named as he was below the age of 18 at the time of some of his offences and is therefore covered by the Children and Young Persons Act 

District Judge Carol Ling had called for reformative training reports to be prepared for Sajid and the accomplice. Reformative training is a regimented rehabilitation programme for those under 21 who commit relatively serious crimes.

THE CASE 

Sajid and the accomplice met each other in 2016 and became friends. 

They grew closer sometime after July 2020, when they found out that they were both members of the same secret society. 

At the time, they agreed to support each other if either of them had disputes with other people. 

Sometime in February this year, tensions started between Sajid and Mr Praveen over Sajid’s girlfriend. Court documents did not state if Sajid and the woman are still a couple. 

Sajid was “infuriated” that Mr Praveen and his girlfriend were messaging each other.

On April 5, Sajid made a plan with the accomplice, to attack Mr Praveen while he was attending the wedding of their mutual friend, Mr Emmauel Ravi at Boon Lay the next day.

On the day of the attack, the duo used a pair of bread knives which were around 24cm in length to slash Mr Praveen and continued to do so even after he tried to flee twice. 

Mr Praveen had been exiting a vehicle with a group of friends, including one Sarankumar Subramaniam. 

They had just returned from the wedding and wanted to continue the celebrations at the groom's home. 

Upon seeing the attack, Mr Sarankumar shouted at them to stop but was slashed on the head by Sajid. 

After they stopped attacking Mr Praveen, they saw Mr Emmanuel nearby. 

The accomplice then pointed his knife at Mr Emmanuel in a threatening manner but was stopped by Sajid as he did not want to harm him. 

They then fled the scene and disposed of their knives in a rubbish chute in the Jurong vicinity. 

They eventually surrendered to the police on April 7 after an island-wide manhunt.

SUITABILITY FOR REFORMATIVE TRAINING 

Sajid’s lawyer, Mr Divanan Narkunan from Phoenix Law Corporation, sought reformative training for his client, stating that Sajid was willing to undergo a programme of strict regimentation to change himself. 

However, Deputy Public Prosecutor R Arvindren cited Sajid's past offences and said that the justice system had provided him multiple opportunities to reform himself but he had not changed. 

DPP Arvindren proposed a sentence of at least 39 months' jail and six strokes of the cane. 

The accomplice’s lawyer, Vadivalagan PV Shanmuga Sundaram from Kalidass Law Corporation also sought reformative training for his client. 

He added that the most important thing that has changed for his client since the offence is his family. According to Mr Vadivalagan, the man and his 19-year-old wife have a one- year-old daughter.

It would be difficult for him to find a job after serving a jail term and this would be a “punishment” to the young family, said Mr Vadivalagan. 

However, DPP Arvindren urged the court not to be swayed by the “seemingly persuasive” argument of the accused having a child as he had committed the offences when he was already a father. 

He called for a total sentence of 39 months' jail, six strokes of the cane, a fine of at least S$9800 and 12 months' disqualification from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licence. 

District Judge Ling noted that the duo were below 21 when they committed the offences.

For offenders below the age of 21, there is an emphasis on rehabilitation unless the offences are serious, harm caused severe or where the offender is hardened and recalcitrant, she said.

"This is clearly one such case," she said, citing factors such as the multiple injuries suffered by the victim, the fact that the pair had bought the bread knives and tracked the victim in order to attack him. 

She agreed with the prosecution's proposed sentence and ordered jail and caning for the pair, instead of reformative training. 

Anyone found guilty of voluntarily causing grievous hurt with weapons can be jailed for up to 15 years and fined or caned.

Those found guilty of being secret society members can be jailed for up to three years and fined up to S$5,000.

Those who drive without a valid licence can be jailed for up to three years or fined up to S$10,000, or both.