Man who grabbed NEA officer's neck and hurled vulgarities to be charged in court

SINGAPORE — A 64-year-old man who was in an altercation with two National Environment Agency (NEA) officers in April will be charged on Wednesday (July 29), the police said.

On April 5, the two NEA enforcement officers had spotted the man, a Singaporean, smoking at a non-designated smoking table belonging to a coffee shop at Block 12, Telok Blangah Crescent. 

The officers approached him and asked for his particulars, but he did not cooperate and ran away. 

The officers then gave chase, and when one of them caught up with the man at Block 26, Telok Blangah Crescent, the man shoved his arm against the officer and used his hand to grab the officer's neck. The man also shouted vulgarities at the officer. 

The police received a call for assistance from an NEA enforcement officer regarding the altercation and the man was later arrested.

In a news release, the police said that the suspect will be charged with voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty, and with using abusive language against a public servant.

If found guilty of voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty, he may be jailed up to seven years and fined or caned. If convicted of using abusive language against a public servant, he could be jailed up to 12 months or fined not more than $5,000, or both.

"The police have zero tolerance towards such acts of violence against public servants who are carrying out their duties and will not hesitate to take action against those who blatantly disregard the law," they said.