A Singaporean man was sentenced to 16 weeks in jail on July 27 after setting fire to a Singapore flag, which damaged seven other flags hung at his block.

Was "heavily intoxicated" at time of offence

Elson Ong Yong Liang, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of mischief by fire, intending to cause damage to property, with another two charges taken into consideration, according to CNA.

Charge sheets showed that Ong was "heavily intoxicated" at the time of the offence, on August 4, 2019, at around 6am, returning home from a drinking session the night before.

He was lighting a cigarette while standing in front of a unit at his block in Woodlands Crescent when he noticed a Singapore flag hung along the outer walls of the block.

Ong decided to use his lighter to set fire to the flag hanging on the 13th floor, which caught on fire and was destroyed.

The remnants of the burnt flag dropped and ignited fires on the flags hung at the floors below on the same block, damaging a total of seven other Singapore flags as a result.

A man later called the police on August 4, 2019, at around 12:41pm, reporting that the flag outside his house had been burnt by someone.

Defence lawyer said that Ong burned paper whenever he was stressed

Deputy Public Prosecutor Khor Zhen Hong asked for six months' jail for Ong, arguing that a state flag was set on fire and could cause significant public disquiet if onlookers were to see a Singapore flag burning.

He added that the potential harm caused was high as well, as other flags were also damaged in the process.

Ong's defence counsel Gino Hardial Singh stated that his client had a "maladaptive coping mechanism of burning paper whenever he's stressed", referring to a report by the Institute of Mental Health, reported CNA.

For mischief by fire intending to cause damage to property, Ong could've been convicted to seven years in jail and fined.

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Top image via HargaiNyawa/Flickr for illustrative purposes