DSP PAUL TAY
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, MEDIA RELATIONS,
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT,
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE

WE refer to the letters by Mr Samuel Owen, "Is police's role only to dispense advice?", and Mr Arthur Lim, "Legal action should be taken against bullies" (The New Paper, 23 Feb).

Click on thumbnails below to view more photos. Story continues after photos. (Photos: TNP, Shin Min)

Generally, the police do not initiate investigation into non-seizable offences and have limited powers to arrest in such cases.

However, the police will initiate investigations on behalf of the aggrieved party in cases where there is clear harm to public interests and vulnerable victims.

In non-seizable cases without aggravating factors, the complainant would be advised to lodge a complaint before a magistrate who has the powers to direct further action.

For this case, we would like to clarify that the police were already investigating the case prior to the letters being published.

This is so even though the case is classified as one of voluntarily causing hurt under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which is a non-seizable offence, because of the aggravating circumstances and in this case, which is an assault against a person doing his work in a public service role as an ambulance driver.

Mr Owen also asked if the assailants would have been arrested if the victim was a public servant.

Under Section 332 of the Penal Code, voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty is a seizable offence (that is, arrestable), unlike offences under Section 323, which is a non-seizable offence.

Anyone who voluntarily causes hurt to a public servant in the discharge of his duty may be arrested.

Ambulance driver showed grace under pressure, while attackers are a disgrace

READER ACE KINDRED CHEONG

I AM extremely angry and disgusted that people in Singapore can be so inhuman.

The ambulance company and Mr Sivachandran Muragasu should sue the men who attacked him.

I hope the authorities also ban them from driving because their lack of patience make them a menace to other road users.

From the illustration, it is clear that the driver could have driven past the ambulance.

If he is such a lousy driver that he could not manage that, it would be all the more reason to ban him from driving.

I would also like to suggest that vehicles like ambulances, police cars and fire engines should be allowed to park in lots meant for the disabled.