Two S'pore teens charged after 5 cops injured while trying to stop stolen car
SINGAPORE - Two teenagers were charged on Monday (Nov 1) after an incident where five police officers were injured while trying to stop the driver of a stolen car from fleeing.
Caius Chan Jing Kai and Lakshan Saravanan, both 19, were charged in a district court with the theft of a black Hyundai Accent last Saturday.
Lakshan faces another charge of stealing a pair of registration plates from another car.
In a press conference earlier on Monday, the police said their officers received a report of a stolen car around 8.30pm last Saturday.
A 22-year-old man, who provides carpooling services, said his two male passengers had driven off in the vehicle in Jalan Kayu when he had stepped out to buy cigarettes for them.
One of the alleged thieves was said to be driving the car at 2.15am on Sunday when it hit an unmarked police car and a parked van. The officers were not injured and the car sped off soon after.
The driver was arrested about six hours later with the help of police cameras. A stun device was also recovered from him.
His passenger during the earlier incident, a 15-year-old girl, was also arrested.
By then, he was said to have passed the stolen vehicle to his alleged accomplice.
Investigations revealed that the vehicle registration plate of the stolen car had allegedly been changed to a plate stolen from another car in Marine Parade.
Police officers spotted the stolen car with two men inside around 9am on Sunday at a carpark in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6
When the driver was told to step out of the car, he allegedly sped off, causing three officers to fall and have minor injuries, the police said.
An unmarked police car then chased the stolen vehicle. In allegedly trying to evade capture, the driver of the stolen car hit two cars parked along the road and the pursuing police car, injuring two officers inside.
The car was eventually stopped along Lentor Plain and a flick knife was found inside. The driver and his passenger were then arrested.
The five officers had various injuries, including abrasions and bruises.
A 16-year-old girl was arrested later for her suspected involvement in the theft, making a total of five arrests.
If found guilty of theft of a motor vehicle with common intention, Lakshan and Chan can be jailed for up to seven years and fined.
Lakshan can also be jailed for up to three years and fined if convicted of stealing a set of vehicle licence plates.
This incident comes after a Traffic Police officer was injured by a reversing car, allegedly driven by a man fleeing a police check, on Oct 28.
During the press conference, the Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Zed Teo, said: "The police will not tolerate such brazen acts. We will spare no effort to apprehend those who blatantly disregard the law and endanger the safety of others.
"Police officers face risks in their daily work. Despite this, our officers remain steadfast in their duties to keep Singapore safe and secure."
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