Two men charged separately over toy grenades left at Istana Park, Clarke Quay MRT

A man who allegedly left a grenade-shaped object at Istana Park last year, leading to the temporary closure of a stretch of Penang Lane, was charged in court on Wednesday (24 October).

As a result of the scare, an area about half the size of a football field was cordoned off by the police for about three hours.

The suspicious object was apparently found on a patch of grass at Istana Park along Penang Road.

Elankovan Marimuthu, 58, faces one count of placing a toy grenade next to a fire hydrant at Istana Park on 3 November 2017, with the intention of inducing a false belief that it was likely to explode and cause personal injury and damage to property.

Also in the same court on Wednesday, another man was charged with placing another toy grenade at an MRT station last year.

Ho Hee Hew, who is also 58, faces one count of placing a brown bag with a toy grenade attached to it at Exit A of Clarke Quay MRT station at about 4.25pm on 16 September 2017. He is accused of intending to induce a false belief that the brown bag was likely to explode and cause personal injury or damage to property.

Elankovan’s case will be mentioned again on 7 November while Ho’s case has been scheduled for a pre-trial conference on 15 November.

The charges both men face under the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Regulations carry a fine of up to $500,00 and/or up to 10 years’ jail.

Related stories:

False alarm: Penang Lane closed after grenade-shaped item found

Man arrested for leaving bag with grenade-shaped object unattended at Clarke Quay MRT