Man facing charges after allegedly starting fire outside mosque in Raffles Place
Martin See Hock Leng, 50, was handed four charges in total.
A man named Martin See Hock Leng appeared in court on September 26, charged with starting a fire outside a mosque and committing other offenses. The fire allegedly began when See burned an undergarment at the entrance of Masjid Moulana Mohamed Ali, located in the basement of UOB Plaza at 80 Raffles Place, on September 25 around 8:05pm. The fire was extinguished by a bystander and no injuries were reported.
In addition to the arson charges, See faces two other counts: causing or contributing to the risk of a dangerous fire, and using insulting words. The insulting words were directed at a man in Novena Church on June 24, where See allegedly told the kneeling and praying individual, "You are Hindu. You go out immediately."
See has also been charged with two theft offenses. The first involved stealing an eyewear frame worth $249 from a retail shop in Mandarin Gallery, Orchard Road, on September 16. The second theft occurred on May 23 when he allegedly stole a $15 silver necklace from a shop in Arab Street. At the time of the first theft, See was under a remission order, which required him to not engage in trouble from April 15 to May 18.
The penalties for See's alleged crimes range from jail time to fines. For causing or contributing to the risk of a dangerous fire, an offender can receive up to a year in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Using insulting words with the intent to harass can result in up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Convictions for theft can lead to up to seven years in prison or a fine.
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