The latest case of vandalism at SMRT's Bishan depot -- the third such incident at a key transport facility in four years -- is suspected to be an inside job as the vandals managed to strike despite heightened security measures put in place over the past few years to protect the perimeter.

In this latest incident on May 5, a train at the depot was apparently spray-painted with graffiti.

It is believed a red scrawl with traces of white -- measuring 3m long and 1m high -- was found on a train's middle carriage.

Signs of inside job

The police received a call for assistance at 6.17 a.m. that day.

Camera footage, which the police are reviewing, showed the train was clean at the end of service just the night before.

The depot's perimeter fence was reportedly intact, and SMRT has yet to confirm any security breach.

These details have led to suggestions of an inside job.

Furthermore, the incident only came to light when Shin Min Daily News broke the news on May 10, some five days after it happened.

After that, the Land Transport Authority and SMRT then confirmed the incident and the subsequent probe.

An anonymous LTA spokesperson told The Sunday Times on May 11: "SMRT discovered the graffiti on the exterior of a train at Bishan depot on the morning of May 5 and reported the incident to the Singapore Police Force and the LTA."

Wider implications of breach

The latest case of vandalism is a serious cause for concern as any security breach could have led to more nefarious plots to cripple Singapore's public transport network and put lives at risk.

Dr Kumar Ramakrishna, head of the Centre for Excellence for National Security at S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, was quoted as saying in a May 12 Channel News Asia report: "This is hypothetical, of course. If they find out who is responsible is indeed from within, then certainly that calls for more stringent background checks.

“One of the potential scenario one could think of from a homeland security point of view, for example, one of cases we've had in Singapore -- in the past a few cases actually -- of self-radicalised individuals, these cannot be entirely ruled out.

“It always pays to be prudent. This is just a case of vandalism, but in future who knows, it may not be a case of vandalism, it might be worse."

Heightened security over the years

In May 2010, two vandals cut through the fence of SMRT's Changi depot and spray-painted graffiti on one side of a train.

SMRT was fined $50,000.

Following this incident, extra patrols, improved lighting and closed-circuit television were implemented.

Yet, in August 2011, a hole was cut in the fence at the Bishan Depot and a 9m-long graffiti was spray-painted on one of the trains.

SMRT was fined $200,000.

In 2013, SMRT replaced two separate contractors and engaged security firm Certis Cisco to monitor its stations and depot round the clock.

Surveillance cameras and reinforced steel fences were also installed around Bishan, Ulu Pandan and Changi depots.

Top photo from here

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