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4 men charged for alleged involvement in secret societies

Singapore state courts (Yahoo News Singapore file photo)
Singapore state courts (Yahoo News Singapore file photo)

Four men were charged in the State Courts on Monday (28 May) for allegedly being part of secret societies.

Jaiseelan Muthusamy, 44, Arulprakash Veliasamy, 45, Sanjeev Chandramogan, 33, and Kunasegaran Arumugam, 32, were believed to be involved in a gathering of secret society members at a funeral wake and procession held on 4 June 2017 at Block 483 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 5, said a Singapore Police Force statement on 27 May.

They allegedly chanted secret society related slogans at the Mandai Crematorium thereafter.

According to charge sheets, Arulprakash, Jaiseelan, and Kunasegaran were said to be part of the “Gi Leng Hor” secret society of the while Sanjeev was said to be part of the “969” secret society. Both secret societies are part of the “24” group.

Arulprakash and Sanjeev’s lawyers told the court that they needed time to make make representations regarding their clients’ charges.

Arulprakash is represented by Rakesh Vasu while Sanjeev is represented by Amarick Gill. The two will be back in court on 25 June.

Kunasegaran told the court that he intends to engage a lawyer and claim trial. He will be back in court on 12 June. Arulprakash, Sanjeev and Kunasegaran are out on $5,000 bail.

Jaiseelan, who faces additional charges of being found armed with a knife in a public place and disturbing the public peace, told the court that he intends to plead guilty. A pre-trial conference for his case has been set for 12 June.

District Judge Terence Tay granted Jaiseelan bail of $15,000 and instructed him not to have any association with other secret society members or his bail would be revoked and he would be placed in remand.

Anyone found guilty of being a member of an unlawful society faces a fine not exceeding $5,000, a jail term of up to three years, or both.