Brothers, 10 and 11, arrested over killer litter incident

SINGAPORE -Two young brothers were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly throwing a small speaker and a vehicle battery from their flat at Dover Road.

The police said yesterday that the boys, aged 10 and 11, were nabbed following a report that a vehicle battery had been thrown from a high floor of Block 4 at about 6.20pm.

The complainant and his friends were at a nearby pavilion when the battery landed near them.

They immediately went to look for the culprit and spotted the 10-year-old boy at the block's common corridor, the police said.

Officers from Queenstown Neighbourhood Police Centre arrived and arrested him.

He was questioned, and it emerged that he and his 11-year-old brother had also thrown a small speaker from their flat earlier in the day.

The older boy was also arrested, and investigations are ongoing.

Commander of Clementi Police Division Melvin Yong thanked the informant and his friends for finding the alleged culprits.

He said in a statement that the police take a "stern view of inconsiderate acts that endanger the lives of others".

He said: "Such irresponsible acts cannot be viewed as simple acts of mischief as the vehicle battery could have seriously injured or killed someone. Police will not hesitate to take firm action against the offenders."

The incident took place on the same day that a 15-year-old boy was arrested for allegedly throwing a brick from a high-rise block and injuring a passer-by last week.

Yesterday, the mother and sister of the teenager protested his innocence. His mother said she was with her son throughout last Friday morning and afternoon when the incident happened.

The police received a call at about 1.40pm that day when a man was hit on the arm by a brick which fell from Block 1, Eunos Crescent. He was taken to Changi General Hospital.

The police said on Tuesday they had arrested the teen. The Straits Times understands that he was taken for fingerprinting and DNA tests on Monday, and was later released on police bail.

His sister said she was with him at the time of the incident.

"We stayed at home and watched TV," she said. "When we heard the crash, we ran outside to look."

Her mother said the boy has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and was a "quiet and shy boy" who usually stayed home and had few friends due to his condition.

Residents said they have lived with killer litter for a long time, with items like eggs, shoes, soiled tampons and even a tin of paint thrown from blocks there.

Housewife Pauline Tan, 35, a resident for five years, said: "We need more security cameras and stricter punishment. There are children and elderly people here who are vulnerable."

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