Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates: https://t.me/mothershipsg
A 30-year-old Chinese man has been arrested after hurling offensive racial remarks and assaulting a 55-year-old Indian woman on May 7.
Man arrested for racial slurs and assault of 55-year-old woman
According to a statement by the police on May 11, the man was arrested for public nuisance, uttering words with intent to wound the racial feelings of others and voluntarily causing hurt.
On May 7, at around 8:45am, the woman was was reportedly walking along a walkway at Choa Chu Kang Drive when she was confronted by a Chinese couple to wear her mask properly.
During a verbal exchange with the man, he allegedly uttered an offensive racial remark and assaulted her, causing her to fall to the ground.
The couple then left the scene and the woman was assisted by a member of the public, according to the statement.
Investigations are currently ongoing.
The offence of public nuisance carries an imprisonment term of up to three months, a fine of up to S$2,000, or both, while uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the racial feelings of any person carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine, or both.
The offence of voluntary causing hurt carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
Daughter of victim shared details of incident on Instagram
The daughter of the victim earlier took to Instagram to share the details of what happened to her mother.
Her mother, Singaporean private tutor Hindocha Nita Vishnubhai, was brisk walking along Chua Chu Kang Drive on the morning of May 7 when she was stopped by a man.
At the time, the 55-year-old had her mask lowered to her chin.
Victim explained that she was exercising, said daughter
She told The Straits Times that the man, who was accompanied by a woman, shouted at her from behind to pull her mask up. Nita explained that she was exercising, and had clearly worked up a sweat from her walk.
The man then allegedly started verbally abusing her and even used a racial slur towards Nita.
Nita told ST that she was "absolutely shocked" and did not like confrontation, so she simply told the man "God bless you" and tried to walk away.
The man then ran towards her and kicked her in the chest, causing Nita to fall to the ground.
Photos Parveen shared showed Nita with abrasions on her arms and hands.
ST reported that the woman did not intervene during the attack, and the pair ran away after the incident.
Very disappointed and seriously concerned that this racist attack could happen in Singapore: PM Lee
After reports of the incident came to light, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong condemned in the strongest possible terms a racist attack that recently occurred in Singapore.
On May 10, PM Lee called the incident a racist attack in a Facebook post, adding that he was "very disappointed and seriously concerned" that this could happen in Singapore.
He added: "There is no place for such behaviour here. We must stand united against racism."
Top image via Parveen Kaur, SPF