SINGAPORE — Three men who caused a ruckus during the Thaipusam procession in 2015 and clashed with police officers were fined, and one of them was also sentenced to jail, on Thursday (March 15).

District Judge Kessler Soh said it was critical that the police’s authority is not “undermined by unlawful acts of defiance and abuse” when maintaining public order.

He fined Gunasegaran Rajendran, 36, and Jaya Kumar Krishnasamy, 31, S$8,000 and S$8,500, respectively.

Ramachandra Chandramohan, 35, was fined S$8,000 and sentenced to one year and one week’s jail. He told the court on Thursday that he would serve an extra three weeks and five days’ jail, in lieu of paying the fine.

After a 13-day trial which began in 2016, the three men were convicted last month of attacking police officers and behaving in a disorderly manner during the 2015 Thaipusam procession.

Ramachandra, a businessman, was found guilty of seven charges including assault of three police officers and uttering words aimed at wounding the religious feelings of a Muslim officer.

Jaya Kumar was convicted of three charges — behaving in a disorderly manner, verbally abusing a police officer and obstructing officers from discharging their duties.

Safety officer Gunasegaran was found guilty of two charges – behaving in a disorderly manner and making comments with the deliberate intention to wound the religious feelings of a police officer while inside a police van.

Their disorderly behaviour occurred at a public event, in public view and caused much public disquiet, noted the judge.

The trio were along Serangoon Road on Feb 3, 2015, when the troupe that Ramachandra and Gunasegaran engaged to play the urumi — a traditional Indian drum — were stopped by the police.

The playing of musical instruments during Thaipusam was banned at the time. But the ban, which dated back to 1973 due to fights between competing groups, was relaxed in late-2015 and live music was allowed at the festival in 2016.

The police’s actions upset Ramachandra and Gunasegaran, who yelled at the officers.

The ensuing ruckus — caught on video — led to the trio getting arrested.

As police officers arrested Gunasegaran, Ramachandra punched one of them on the lower jaw and hurled verbal abuse at another.

Jaya Kumar, an operations manager who joined the men at the procession, also tried to prevent the officers from taking Ramachandra into the police van.

While in the van, all three of them verbally abused police officers and two of them uttered offensive remarks at a Muslim officer. Gunasegaran also landed a kick to another police officer’s lower jaw.

DJ Soh said deterrent sentences were “clearly warranted” in this case.

“The incident involved acts of violence and abuse against police officers, who were engaged in ensuring public order,” he said.

“Some offensive remarks (that) were directed at the Muslim officer had the potential to inflame religious sensitivities.”

He agreed with the prosecution, led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Houston Johannus, that a fine was warranted for Gunasegaran and Jaya Kumar. Ramachandra’s conduct was “most aggravated” among the three, he said.

The three men, who were unrepresented, appeared in court on Thursday with family and friends, some of whom broke down after the sentences were handed out.

After news of the incident broke in 2015, some members of the public questioned why the playing of musical instruments was banned during the Thaipusam procession.

This prompted Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam and Trade and Industry Minister (Industry) S Iswaran — then Second Home Affairs Minister — to respond, with Mr Shanmugam saying Hindus are not discriminated against and have been given the privilege to hold religious foot processions.