More than 7 years’ jail for man who vandalised police post, stole from 7-Eleven store

SINGAPORE — On Sept 23 last year, Abdul Rahim Abu Bakar used black spray paint to scrawl “Big bully” and “ISD big bully” in capital letters on the walls and door of Chong Pang Neighbourhood Police Post.

This was the latest among a string of offences that he had committed that month, including refusing to take a urine test after arrest, and not paying for food and drinks he consumed in a 7-Eleven convenience store, claiming that the police will foot his bill.

For one charge each of vandalism, theft and drug-related offences, the 51-year-old Singaporean was jailed for seven years and three months on Tuesday (March 15).

A fourth charge was taken into consideration during sentencing.

The court heard that on Sept 16 last year, Abdul Rahim walked into a 7-Eleven outlet at Marina Square mall at 6.49pm and picked up a 1.5L bottle of soft drink and drank a quarter of it.

He then went to the counter and handed the opened bottle to the cashier, saying that it was not tasty. He also told her that he had no money to pay for the drink.

The store manager was informed but allowed Abdul Rahim to leave out of leniency.

However, he returned a few hours later to the same store, this time picking up a loaf of bread, curry puff and another 1.5L bottle of soft drink to consume. He told the staff member there that he had no money for the items and that the police would pay for them.

When he refused to leave, the staff member approached a security officer who then called the police for help.

When police officers arrived, the man insisted that the police owed him money and so, they could pay for the food and drinks for him. He was then arrested.

A week later on Sept 23, a member of the public caught Abdul Rahim spraying paint at the front lobby of the Chong Pang Neighbourhood Police Post and informed an officer on duty inside.

Abdul Rahim was later arrested, after spray-painting the words “Big bully” once and “ISD big bully” twice in black paint on the interior walls and doors of the police post. 

While detained, he refused to provide a specimen of his urine for testing, despite being given warnings seven times that refusal to do so was an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

When he was later escorted to the hospital for a medical check-up, Abdul Rahim asked to use the toilet. He insisted on not providing a urine specimen and went on to just urinate into a toilet bowl.

Later on, he again refused to provide a specimen after being discharged to a police station in Woodlands.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Angela Ang submitted that Abdul Rahim had been convicted and sentenced to jail in the past for consumption of the drug methamphetamine.

For the vandalism offence, Abdul Rahim could have been jailed up to three years, fined up to S$3,000 and given three to eight strokes of the cane. 

Abdul Rahim cannot be caned by law as he is above the age of 50.

Theft carries a fine or a jail term of up to seven years, or both.

Abdul Rahim’s offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act could have landed him in jail for between seven and 13 years.