NUS student, 24, fined S$3,000 for deflating tyres of 7 cars using green beans

To make a statement, a National University of Singapore (NUS) student deflated the tyres of seven sports utility vehicles (SUVs) near his house in Woodlands.

Benjamin Chia Yit Loong pleaded guilty on Nov. 6 to one charge of mischief and was fined S$3,000, The Straits Times reported.

Green beans

According to court documents, Chia was interested in climate change and environmental issues and wished to make owning sports utility vehicles (SUVs) unattractive.

On Nov. 19, 2024, Chia purchased a packet of green beans at around 10am, and brought them with him to two multi-storey car parks at Woodlands Drive 14.

Within two hours, from 10am to around 12pm, he deflated the tyres of seven cars.

He would unscrew the tyre cap of the car, place green beans inside the tyre valve and close the cap.

This caused the car's tyres to deflate.

For the first car, he deflated all four tyres.

Subsequently, he deflated one to two tyres of the remaining six cars.

Left a flyer

At the end, he left a copy of a flyer on the car windshield.

The flyer stated that the tyres were deflated because "driving around urban areas in your massive vehicle has huge consequences for others."

It then outlined how SUVs harm the climate and are reportedly the second-largest contributor to the rise in carbon dioxide emissions over the past decade.

"Even if you don't care about the impacts on people far away from you, there's also consequences for your neighbours... That's why we have taken this action," the flyer stated.

"You will have no difficulty getting around without your gas guzzler, with walking, cycling or public transit."

The flyer then linked to a website called Tyre Extinguishers.

Car damaged when moved

One of the seven cars also sustained damage when the driver scratched it against the curb of the car park while driving to a petrol station to reinflate the tyres.

Chia was arrested that same day at 9pm and was released on court bail on Nov. 21.

The prosecution sought a fine, noting that the damage caused was minor and that Chia had made voluntary compensation.

He also has no prior convictions.

Top photos via Complaint Singapore, Court Documents & Lianhe Zaobao