Mr Chua lost his left little finger in the attack and his left hand was almost severed although it was re-attached successfully by surgery. Mr Chung had, among other injuries, a severe cut near the spine which sliced through his neck muscles. Deputy Public Prosecutor Sunari Kateni submitted that jail and caning should be imposed to deter would-be offenders from rioting or committing other offences against public tranquillity. He pleaded guilty. Mr Koh was also hit on the head with a beer mug during the attack near a convenience store at Orchard Towers shortly before 11.40 pm on Jan 11.
Rioting is punishable with a jal term of up to five years.
Offenders can also be caned. A DRUG addict escaped the death sentence narrowly yesterday after he managed to show that not all of his 20 g of heroin were meant for selling. The death sentence is compulsory for trafficking in more than 15 g of heroin. In passing sentence, Justice T.S. Sinnathuray said that while he had amended the original capital charge to a lesser one, he viewed the case gravely because Roslan had admitted that he sold drugs to his friends regularly. The judge also noted that he did not repent despite having been jailed previously for having drugs.