A Singaporean man was arrested and charged on Sat (14 Mar) for starting a fire in front of a Kallang neighbourhood police post (NPP), said the Singapore Police Force.
Sivaprakash Mailravanan, 30, had allegedly lit up several bags of clothes using petrol or diesel and had smashed the glass door of the NPP in Boon Keng last night, according to police.
While Sivaprakash had scribbled “ISIS” on several pillars near the police post, police have ruled out the possibility of the act being linked to terrorism, as preliminary investigations showed that he was a “disgruntled person unhappy with the perceived social inequality”.
Sivaprakash had allegedly spray-painted vulgarities condemning the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) on one of the pillars.
Police said that they were first alerted to the case involving a fire at Block 105 Towner Road at around 11.10pm yesterday.
Videos and photographs related to the incident circulated on social media platforms. Residents also reported hearing several explosions near the Boon Keng NPP at the time Sivaprakash allegedly carried out the offence.
Tarlo Gill, a member of the public, was among those who shared footage related to the incident.
A commenter named Shandi Gill, who was cited by Mr Gill as the individual who had alerted the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to the fire, said that the suspect was “shouting a bunch of expletives” directed to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
“I saw a firefighter running towards the fire to put it out even though the perpetrator looked and sounded very threatening. I’m so touched by their courage,” she said.
No casualties or injuries were reported in relation to the incident. The NPP was a fully automated post, said Jalan Besar GRC Member of Parliament Heng Chee How.
Sivaprakash will be remanded for a week for further investigations. The police will also seek a court order compelling him to attend a psychiatric assessment.
He could face a jail term of seven years and a fine if found guilty of the mischief by fire charge made against him under Section 435 of the Penal Code.
