News Nation Logo

Indian-origin ‘serial prank caller’ gets three-years jail term in Singapore

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Guihiamliu Riamei | Updated on: 06 Sep 2018, 10:58:31 PM
Indian-origin ‘serial prank caller’ gets three-years jail term in Singapore (Representational image)

New Delhi:

An Indian-origin “serial prank caller” in Singapore was on Thursday sentenced to three years of imprisonment for repeatedly making nuisance calls to the police, despite being arrested for the same offence previously.

Gurcharan Singh, a 61-year-old cleaner, usually made the “999” emergency calls after drinking alcohol, the court heard.

Also Read | 22 per cent Indians believe there is less lying in politics today

The latest incidents occurred over two days in June, with Singh making two calls on the first day and 15 on the second.

On June 10, Singh called the police using a public phone at a void deck of an apartment block in Chai Chee housing estate. In one of his calls, Singh he told the operator, “You are stupid” and added that he put one dynamite to the immigration house.

“I put one dynamite to the immigration house... You are the police emergency ... You should find out everything in the world what’s happening ... and question everything ... all you should have find out ... What a f***ed up police emergency you are,” Singh said.

The police traced Singh’s phone call location and arrested him that day; three empty beer cans were also recovered from his possession, Channel News Asia reported.

Singh made another 15 calls to the police, all in one day, later that month.

Singh has been and offender since 2000, with the most recent conviction in 2016, when he was sentenced to two-year jail term, Deputy Public Prosecutor Daphne Lim said.

Also Read | 2+2 Dialogue: India, US ink critical defence pact 

Lim asked for a jail sentence of three years and nine months, noting that Singh reoffended while out on bail and breached his remission order, which makes him liable for an enhanced jail term.

“His underlying problem is alcohol use disorder,” the deputy public prosecutor said, adding that any nuisance calls made to the police deprive people in distress of timely police intervention.

Singh, who was unrepresented, apologised and pleaded for a lighter sentence.

Sentencing him to three years of imprisonment, the court also ordered an additional enhanced jail term of 66 days for breaching his remission order.

(With inputs from agencies)

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.

First Published : 06 Sep 2018, 10:07:45 PM

Videos