Policeman who broke 'Parrot man' Zeng Guoyuan's walking stick and lied about it jailed
SINGAPORE — A police senior staff sergeant who intentionally broke an elderly man’s walking stick was on Friday (26 July) sentenced to four months and two weeks’ jail.
Seah Chin Peng, 48, had also lied to a police investigator about the incident, claiming that he had lost his balance and accidentally stepped on the 65-year-old victim’s walking aid.
He also lied that the stick had been thrown away by members of the public, when he had in fact put it at the back of a police car.
Seah, who was suspended in October 2017, was found guilty last month of two counts of giving false evidence to a police investigator after a trial.
He also pleaded guilty to one charge of mischief.
He is out on bail pending an appeal against conviction for the two counts of giving false evidence.
Seah also intends to appeal against his sentence for mischief. His lawyer Sofia Bennita Mohamed Bakhash had earlier argued for a more lenient sentence, saying he was a dedicated officer of 24 years who had contributed to the country and police force. The incident with Zeng was a “one-off” issue, she said.
The police earlier said that they have started disciplinary proceedings against him.
Incident captured on camera
On 31 October 2016, police got a ‘999’ call from a person who complained that Zeng Guoyuan was begging and causing nuisance in front of the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple at 178 Waterloo Street.
Zeng, now 65, is a former businessman and politician who is better known as “Parrot Man” - for his pet white cockatoo that used to accompany him, and for blaming the bird after he fell foul of the law for using vulgarities on two policemen in 2008.
Seah, who was attached to Marina Bay Neighbourhood Police Centre, attended to the scene with a policewoman.
They saw Zeng sitting on a wheelchair under a big umbrella outside the temple. He was holding a $28 walking stick.
The entire events were captured on the policewoman’s body-worn camera.
Seah asked Zeng in Chinese to let him take a look at the walking stick and told him that he may hurt people with it. Zeng then passed the stick to Seah.
Zeng stood up and tried to take back the walking aid, before sitting down again. While seated, Zeng asked for his stick back again.
But Seah stepped hard on the walking stick with his right foot, causing it to be bent. He intended to damage the stick.
The policeman told Zeng he did not want him to injure others with the stick. Angered, Zeng said “f*** off” and “c******”.
Seah asked Zeng to repeat what he had said, but Zeng did not answer the question. He only told Seah not to disturb him or to spoil his things.
Seah then arrested Zeng for disorderly behaviour and using abusive language against a public servant.
Later that day, Seah told a police investigator holding the rank of inspector that he had lost his balance and stepped on Zeng’s walking stick.
On 3 November, he also lied to the inspector that the walking stick had been thrown away by members of the public.
On 14 November 2016, while investigating Zeng’s case, the inspector suspected that Seah had given false information in relation to Zeng’s arrest. She later referred the matter to the police’s internal affairs office.
Zeng was not charged for any offences in relation to the incident.
The maximum punishment for mischief is up to one year’s jail along with a fine.
For each count of lying to a public servant, Seah could have been jailed for up to a year along with a fine of up to $5,000.
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