SINGAPORE — The police have arrested nine more people in their manhunt for suspects involved in a fight in Chinatown on Sunday (May 10), where a 19-year-old teenager was taken to hospital after the brawl.

Three men were already nabbed earlier that day after two groups of people were allegedly rioting with deadly weapons at People’s Park Centre.

Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that the fight started because of a dispute between a member of each group over a woman.

In a news release on Tuesday, the police said that eight men and a woman aged between 18 and 28 were arrested between May 10 and 12 after officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Police Intelligence Department and Central Police Division conducted several island-wide raids.

The nine were allegedly members of an unlawful society, had been part of an unlawful assembly, and were rioting while armed with deadly weapons.

On top of the alleged offences, the police are also investigating one of the men for harbouring another two of the arrested men.

They reminded the public that harbouring fugitives is a serious offence punishable with imprisonment and fine.

With regulations tightened to restrict social activities and interaction during the Covid-19 pandemic, all of the arrested persons will also be investigated for breach of safe distancing measures under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.

To assist in their investigations, the police are now appealing for information on the whereabouts of two other people: Muhammad Syukri Muhammad Iskandar and Muhammad Ilham Noordin.

Those with information on these two men should call the CID hotline at 6435 0000 or the police hotline at 1800 255 0000. All information received will be kept strictly confidential.

The offence of rioting while armed with deadly weapons is punishable with jail of up to 10 years and caning.

If convicted of unlawful assembly, a person could be jailed up to two years, fined, or both.

For being a member of an unlawful society, the offence is punishable under Section 14(3) of the Societies Act and carries a jail term of up to three years, or a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

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