3 more plead guilty to causing teen’s death at Downtown East

SINGAPORE: Three more youths pleaded guilty on Thursday for their roles in the death of a teenager at Downtown East in 2010.

Lewis Wee Jun Jie, 22, was found guilty of one charge of rioting and another charge of affray.

Ho Wei Quan, 19, admitted to one count of rioting while armed with a deadly weapon.

Chong Rui Hong, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of rioting.

The trio were members of an unlawful assembly that caused grievous hurt to 19—year—old Darren Ng Wei Jie at the foyer of Downtown East on October 30, 2010.

One or more members of the group stabbed and slashed the Republic Polytechnic student with knives, choppers and a screwdriver.

Ng, a member of the "Fong Hong San" gang, died of multiple injuries.

In mitigation, the lawyers of the trio highlighted the relatively minor role their clients played in the incident.

Wee’s lawyers, Subhas Anandan and Sunil Sudheesan, argued that none of the injuries inflicted on the victim were caused by him.

They added that their client did not set out to be part of any physical confrontation.

This point was also highlighted by Chong’s lawyer, Josephus Tan.

He argued that Chong was the "least culpable of the 11 accused".

He stressed that Chong was not a gang member and was merely an "unenthusiastic onlooker".

The court also heard that Ho broke away from the group mid—way and later surrendered.

The three will be sentenced on July 18.

Two of the 11 accused have been sentenced so far.

Jason Chew Wei Beng, the first of the group to be prosecuted for rioting, was given four years’ jail and six strokes of the cane.

Puay De Feng, 21 was jailed five years and given six strokes of the cane.

— CNA/cc