Lawyer granted access to teen vandal suspect

A lawyer was yesterday granted access to his teenage client, who is alleged to have been part of a group which vandalised a Housing Board block in Toa Payoh last week.

Mr Choo Zheng Xi met 17-year-old David William Graaskov last night at Tanglin Police Division, where he is being held during investigations. The latter's parents were also present.

The prosecution did not object to the lawyer's application for immediate access, but opposed his second application for a gag order to prevent the publication of any information that might lead to the youngster's identification.

Graaskov, Goh Rong Liang, Boaz Koh Wen Jie, Chay Nam Shen and Reagan Tan Chang Zhi, all 17, have been charged with vandalism by spraying graffiti on walls at the top of the 22-storey Block 85A in Lorong 4 Toa Payoh at about 12.30am on May 7.

They are said to have sprayed expletive-filled words against the People's Action Party and police in red, before signing off with the name "Mike Cool".

All five will return to court tomorrow.

In court yesterday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Tang Shangjun also told the court the prosecution would not object to Graaskov's parents speaking to him in the dock.

However, District Judge Eddy Tham disallowed this and allowed the teen to call his parents instead.

The maximum penalty for vandalism is a $2,000 fine, three years' jail, plus three to eight strokes of the cane.

This article by The Straits Times was published in MyPaper, a free, bilingual newspaper published by Singapore Press Holdings.

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