NUS student allegedly used green beans to deflate tyres of 7 cars in Woodlands

23-year-old Benjamin Chia Yit Loong has been charged with one count of committing mischief by deflating the tyres of seven cars in a multi-storey carpark in Woodlands on Nov. 19, 2024.

Chia is accused of committing the offences on Nov. 19 at around 10am to 12pm, at Block 517A and 519A Woodlands Drive 14.

The National University of Singapore student allegedly placed green beans in the tyre stems of the cars and let the air out slowly, according to court documents seen by Mothership.

The student also allegedly put up flyers on the windscreens of five of the vehicles in the carpark.

The flyers said the act of deflating the tyres was linked to a movement by a climate activist group known as "Tyre Extinguishers" that is opposed to the use of sport utility vehicles (SUVs).

Police arrested Chia within eight hours of a car owner lodging a report that she found the tyres of her vehicle deflated.

Chia was previously charged with causing public nuisance, but had his charge amended to one count of committing mischief when he returned to the State Courts on Dec. 17, CNA reported.

Chia's current charge of committing mischief is more serious than his original charge of public nuisance.

The charge of public nuisance carries a jail term of up to three months, a fine of up to S$2,000, or both.

The charge of committing mischief carries a jail term of up to two years, a fine, or both.

Granted leave to travel to Perth

Chia also applied for and was granted leave to travel to Perth to visit his family there from Dec. 21, 2024, to Jan. 12, 2025.

The trip had apparently been planned months before the offence took place, with flight tickets having been bought in July 2024.

The court granted the application but imposed an additional S$10,000 bail for Chia.

Top photos via Complaint Singapore & SPF