Man with sword jumped fare gate to board train: SMRT

A man wearing a samurai outfit jumped the fare gate at Paya Lebar MRT station and took a samurai sword on board a train, SMRT said in a statement on its Facebook page on Monday.

Its staff alerted the police and the man was later arrested near Bugis MRT station.

The statement added: "Passenger safety is our priority and we do not tolerate abhorrent behaviour nor allow offensive weapons to be brought on our trains.

"Passengers who witness such acts should activate the emergency communication button to communicate with the train captain, who will in turn report the situation to the operations control centre. Station staff at the nearest station will render immediate assistance and will alert the police and security staff."

When The New Paper contacted SMRT, the public transport operator said no further information would be provided.

The police said they received a call at about 12.46pm requesting for assistance at Paya Lebar MRT station.

When their officers boarded the train travelling towards City Hall, they kept the suspect apart from other commuters so as not to aggravate the situation. He alighted at City Hall station, according to the police.

"At Bugis, officers advised the suspect to surrender his weapon. The suspect complied and was subsequently arrested for being in possession of a schedule weapon under Section 7(1)(a) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act, Chapter 65," the statement added.

No injuries were reported. Investigations are ongoing.

BLUNT BLADES

While carrying swords in public is an offence under the law, replica or ornamental swords with blunt blades are allowed to be sold here.

Caesar's, one of the largest sellers of replica swords and guns here, states on its website that its swords have blunt edges but sharp tips.

It said replicas of guns and swords are not meant for sparring or firing and are intended as decorative ornaments.

One must be 18 or older to buy such items, and the shop is required by law to record the buyer's personal particulars and contact numbers.

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Other samurai sword cases

OCTOBER 2012

Police arrested two men on Oct 1 last year after they were seen loitering near a car parked next to a rubbish bin centre in Woodlands.

After being alerted by residents of Block 684B, Woodlands Drive 73, the police found drugs, three samurai swords and a saw when they searched the grey rental car.

The penalty for unlawful possession of weapons is a jail term of up to five years and at least six strokes of the cane.

JANUARY 2012

A 29-year-old man was jailed for 18 months on July 9 last year for assaulting his wife, breaching a Personal Protection Order and attacking his female neighbour with a samurai sword with a 40cm blade.

The delivery man slashed the 38-year-old woman on the head, leg and back on Jan 7 after suspecting her of reporting him for drug consumption.

Investigations revealed the man was drunk at the time.

DECEMBER 2010

Two police officers saw a man behaving suspiciously at Mayo Street near Little India on Dec 3, 2010, and decided to check his particulars. But he bolted down Jalan Besar with a samurai sword, leaving his sling bag behind. He was later arrested.

The mobile phone broker, 28, was jailed for two years and given six strokes of the cane on Feb 27 last year after pleading guilty to various offences, including three drug-related ones and one of possession of weapons.

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