S’porean man, 31, drunk on whiskey in Punggol cinema, kicks police officer, given 6 weeks’ jail & S$1,000 fine

A 31-year-old Singaporean man was sentenced to six weeks’ jail and fined S$1,000 after he was drunk in a cinema and kicked a police officer.

Daryl Tang Jun Wen faced five charges consisting of using criminal force, being drunk in public, trespassing, public nuisance, and possession of a weapon.

He pleaded guilty to two charges and was sentenced on Aug. 31.

The remaining charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

Cinema

In court documents seen by Mothership, on Jun. 28, 2025, at about 11:48pm, Tang went to watch a movie at the Shaw Theatres cinema at Waterway Point.

He hid a 750ml bottle of Dewar’s whiskey in his backpack and drank it alone while watching the movie.

After the movie ended, he remained in the cinema and continued drinking.

On Jun. 29, 2025, between about 12:48am and 3:17am, while intoxicated, Tang repeatedly kicked the cinema seats and became hostile towards cinema staff when he was asked to leave.

He also slammed doors and trespassed into the box office area.

Despite multiple requests from cinema staff to leave the premises, Tang refused to comply and continued his disruptive behaviour.

At about 3:17am, cinema staff called the police for assistance.

At about 3:19am, two police officers were dispatched to the cinema and found Tang seated.

When approached, Tang refused to cooperate.

He declined to explain what had occurred, and did not provide any identification or particulars.

The police officers then requested additional support.

While awaiting additional officers, Tang moved around inside the cinema and displayed aggressive behaviour by standing in front of the police officers and clenching his fists when they attempted to question him.

After additional support arrived, the police officers arrested him.

They found the whiskey bottle, but Tang refused to answer whether it belonged to him.

He also reeked of alcohol and verbally admitted that he had been drinking.

Kick

Tang was then placed on a medical stretcher for transport to the police vehicle.

Tang kept placing his feet on the ground to obstruct movement and kicked around along the way.

Some police officers walked alongside the stretcher to lift his legs to prevent him from doing so.

They also issued him verbal warnings multiple times.

Tang proceeded to kick one of the police officers once on his left elbow with his right leg.

The police officer moved away while his partner applied appropriate force to restrain him and issued a verbal warning.

Tang apologised.

After placing him inside the vehicle, Tang continued shouting and moving around, despite numerous verbal warnings to sit properly.

The police officers then escorted him to the Regional Lock-Up at Woodlands Police Headquarters.

Investigations revealed that Tang’s blood alcohol level was 153 mg/100ml.

He was arrested at about 5:20am and held in police custody until he was released on bail on the same day at about 8:51pm.

The police officer sought medical attention at Woodlands Hospital at about 7.18am.

He was diagnosed with a left elbow contusion.

The police officer declined analgesia or a medical certificate, and was discharged on the same day.

Weapon

In a separate incident, on Jun. 1, 2024, the police received a call from Tang about a fight.

During the call, he used several vulgarities while speaking with the operator and refused to provide his name when asked.

Investigations revealed that, sometime on or before Jun. 1, 2024, Tang was drinking at an unknown bar located in the Cuppage area.

At about 8:16am, police officers arrived at the scene to respond to Tang.

They entered a restaurant at Cuppage Road and found him seated, appearing to be drinking with an unknown Chinese male.

Tang then started hurling various vulgarities at the unknown Chinese male and accused him of wanting to hack him.

He then alleged that a “bunch” of individuals wanted to attack him.

Tang then told the police officers to take a walk with him, and also repeatedly used vulgarities when speaking with the police officer.

Police officers noticed he was intoxicated.

Tang then started speaking incoherently and slurred his speech, and approached various passers-by.

He then told police officers he had tried to enter the restaurant kitchen to get a chopper, but a staff member stopped him.

The unknown male staff on duty at the restaurant also informed police that Tang was displaying incoherent and belligerent behaviour and he refused to sell him more alcohol.

During questioning, Tang walked in and out of the restaurant and confronted other patrons and an unknown male staff member, causing some patrons to leave.

Police officers later retrieved a black Leatherman tool from Tang’s pocket.

He incoherently explained that the tool was used for work, but admitted that he felt threatened and would have wielded the weapon to “stab”.

He was arrested at about 9:10am, held in police custody at Central Division Regional Lock Up, and released the following day on Jun. 2, 2024, at about 12:59pm.

During investigations, the accused admitted that there was in fact no fight.

Violent tendencies

The prosecution sought six to seven weeks’ jail and a S$1,000 fine for Tang.

They noted that Tang was intoxicated during the offences.

The prosecution also argued that Tang “displayed violent tendencies by attempting to enter the kitchen” to take a chopper.