A 23-year-old Indian student has been sentenced to jail in Singapore after a violent drunken assault on a woman and resisting arrest in a shocking late-night incident.
Pawan Legha, who was studying at a private education institute in Singapore, was sentenced to five weeks in jail after pleading guilty to one count of voluntarily causing hurt and one count of resisting arrest. The court heard how the intoxicated student attacked a woman before turning his aggression on police officers.
The Drunken Attack
According to court documents, the incident occurred in the early hours of 26 November 2022 when Legha was heavily intoxicated. The prosecution stated that the student approached a 41-year-old woman near Orchard Towers and suddenly punched her in the face without provocation.
The victim, who suffered swelling and bruises, immediately reported the assault to nearby police officers. When officers attempted to arrest Legha, he became violent and aggressive, shouting obscenities and resisting arrest.
Violent Resistance
Body-worn camera footage showed Legha struggling violently with four police officers, kicking one in the chest and attempting to bite another. It took multiple officers to restrain the intoxicated student, who continued his aggressive behaviour even after being handcuffed.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Lim Ying Min described how Legha had to be restrained on the ground before being transported to a police station, where he continued his disruptive behaviour by kicking a cell door.
Court Proceedings
During sentencing, District Judge Terence Tay noted that Legha's alcohol consumption didn't excuse his violent behaviour. The judge emphasised that such unprovoked attacks on members of the public and law enforcement officers couldn't be tolerated.
Legha could have faced up to three years in jail for voluntarily causing hurt and up to four years for using criminal force to deter a public servant from duty. However, the prosecution sought a shorter jail term of four to six weeks, considering his early guilty plea and lack of prior convictions.
The court heard that Legha, who has since been expelled from his educational institution, expressed remorse for his actions through his lawyer. He has reportedly been receiving counselling for anger management issues.
Singapore's Strict Laws
This case highlights Singapore's strict approach to violent crime and assault on police officers. The city-state maintains a reputation for low crime rates through tough sentencing and zero-tolerance policies towards violence.
Foreign students in Singapore are typically warned about the severe consequences of breaking local laws, which can include corporal punishment for certain offences. Alcohol-related violence has been a particular focus of Singaporean authorities in recent years.
