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SINGAPORE: A 77-year-old man who allegedly cut the cable ties of a bird trap, allowing three crows to escape, was charged in court on Tuesday (Dec 16) with disrupting a National Parks Board (NParks) operation.<\/p>\n
Singaporean Tan See Chee, who kept quiet during his brief court mention, is accused of one count of mischief causing disruption to the performance of a public agency’s function.<\/p>\n
NParks was carrying out crow population management operations at a grass patch near Block 181, Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, on Oct 20 this year.<\/p>\n
At about 5.50pm that day, Tan allegedly used a pair of scissors to cut the cable ties securing a bird trap that was placed at the grass patch.<\/p>\n
Three birds escaped as a result.<\/p>\n
The police said in a statement that Tan’s identity was established two days later with the aid of closed-circuit television footage.<\/p>\n
The police said they “take a serious view of such acts of mischief” and will not hesitate to take firm action against “those who damage public property or any apparatus deployed to serve public functions”.<\/p>\n
Tan had the charge read to him in English. The court officer said he intends to plead guilty and would not be engaging a lawyer.<\/p>\n
A date was fixed for him to plead guilty in January.<\/p>\n
If convicted of committing mischief to disrupt the performance of a public agency’s function, he could be jailed for up to 10 years, fined, or both.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n