SINGAPORE — A security officer pleaded guilty yesterday to vandalising the Cenotaph war monument at the Esplanade Park.

Mohamad Khalid Mohamad Yusop, 33, had used a can of red spray paint to write an “X”, followed by the word “democracy”, on the monument on the night of April 23. Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Wee Hao told the court that Khalid had left his home that day with the can of indelible red spray paint, which he bought previously to repaint his kitchen cabinet.

Khalid had decided that he wanted to use it to spray an “X” at a location that could be seen by the public and looked for a suitable target, the court heard. Two witnesses saw him commit the act that night.

When one of them confronted him, Khalid told him it was art. He also said it was a revolution. After Khalid left the scene, he threw the can of paint into the river near the Esplanade.

Khalid was arrested on April 27. Repairs to the Cenotaph, which honours those who died in World Wars I and II and is one of Singapore’s 64 national monuments, amounted to S$208.

In mitigation, Khalid’s lawyer Choo Zheng Xi said his client was “deeply remorseful” and wished to apologise unreservedly to the descendants of the war dead and to all Singaporeans for the “foolish and gravely insensitive” act. Mr Choo said it was never Khalid’s intention to make a political statement. “The context of his actions occurred in the dissatisfaction with his family situation that he didn’t know how to deal with,” the lawyer said.

Khalid, who is out on bail, will be sentenced on Aug 26. He could face a jail term of up to three years and caning.