Swiss national, Oliver Fricker, 32, a software consultant, was charged with cutting the fence of the depot and vandalising two carriages of an SMRT train. Police believe that the Swiss was not working alone – he was allegedly in cahoots with British citizen Lloyd Dane Alexander. The duo is believed to have cut through the fence of the depot although it was topped with barbed wire. Once inside the depot, they spray-painted graffiti on one side of a train.
The alleged breach of security has prompted SMRT to step up security at all its depots. SMRT is also working closely with the authorities to strengthen security at its perimeters, including additional surveillance and intrusion detection systems.
Vandalism in Singapore carries a fine of up to $2,000 or up to three years in jail, plus three to eight strokes of a cane.
Some netizens are crying for Oliver to be released and even condoning his vandalism act as art and freedom of speech and expression. Other find it reminiscent of the 1994 Micheal Peter Fay case, and feel that a harsher penalty should actually be meted out to Oliver as unlike Micheal, he is not a teen.
What do you think? Should we let Oliver off the hook, or make him suffer the consequences of breaking the law? Oliver is currently out on a $100,000 bail right now. His passport has also been impounded.
For the curious, here is a youtube video of the graffiti done by Oliver.