SINGAPORE – A security officer who was trying to stop a delivery rider from parking illegally outside Alexandra Central Mall was fined $2,400 on March 13, after he was found to have unlawfully grabbed the rider’s arm and disturbed the public peace.

Following a trial, Sandhu D.S., 75, was convicted on Feb 19 over one charge of using criminal force against the rider and one charge of affray.

He was acquitted of two other charges of using criminal force on two other persons who had tried to step in during the incident.

The rider, Mr Eric Tan Chee Keong, was sentenced in June 2023 to one week’s jail for his role in the dispute.

He had pleaded guilty to a charge of affray, while a charge of using criminal force was taken into consideration during his sentencing.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Santhra Aiyyasamy asked the court to mete out a high fine, leaving the amount to the court, while Sandhu’s lawyers – Mr Raj Joshua Thomas, Mr Vigneesh Nainar and Mr Alex Neo – argued for a fine of between $1,700 and $2,500.

DPP Santhra said Sandhu was the one who initiated the physical contact and was the aggressor throughout the incident as he was agitated with Mr Tan for swearing at him.

She added: “The accused, whose duty as a security officer included keeping the peace at his place of work, had engaged in a physical altercation with the co-accused and behaved in a manner that disturbed the public peace.”

Sandhu’s lawyers said the security officer regrets his role in offences and has learnt from his experience.

In his mitigation, they said that he has been employed in the private security industry for most of his working life, and added that he received multiple accolades and testimonials for his character and competence, including a public spiritedness award he obtained in 1994.

He currently earns about $2,000 per month and is the sole breadwinner of his family, who stay apart from him in Batam, they added.

Said the defence lawyers: “He accepts that he may have crossed a line in the present case, and is committed to performing his duties in accordance with the law and without resorting to such physical interactions.”

Speaking to The Straits Times following his sentencing, Sandhu said he fully intends to continue as a security officer as it is the only job he has done all his life.

In the incident which occurred on Aug 21, 2022, Mr Tan had parked his e-bike outside John’s Pizzeria & Bakery to collect an order.