Teens beat up workers for 'practice'

He was spoiling for a fight.

Not with worthy opponents or at martial arts classes, but against innocent - and weaker - foreign workers.

Daryl Lim Jun Liang, 18 and his three friends prowled around Yishun, looking for smaller men they could beat up.

The three were Tan Jun Liang, also 18, and two 15-year-old boys who cannot be named due to their age.

They found two victims for their "practice sessions".

Lim pleaded guilty to assaulting Chinese national Zuo Yu Nian on Oct 3.

Another assault charge, involving an Indian national, Mr Selvaraj Madankumar, 27, will be taken into consideration during sentencing on March 12.

The four teens bashed Mr Selvaraj, a construction worker, on Sept 21.

They attacked him at Block 288, Yishun Avenue 6, at around 6am that day and left him bleeding from a cut lip.

They struck again in the neighbourhood 12 days later.

The teenagers met at the void deck of Block 228, Yishun Street 21 at around 3am on Oct 3 and went to Block 288 to look for foreign workers to beat up.

Three hours later, they spotted Mr Zuo, 48, who is also a construction worker, walking along a pavement in front of Block 289.

They punched him several times on his face before fleeing, leaving him bleeding from his mouth.

In court yesterday, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Nicholas Lai told District Judge Lim Keng Yeow said that, like Mr Selvaraj, Mr Zuo also suffered cuts on his lips.

"The victims didn't provoke (Lim)... He can't go around harming people," he said.

DPP Lai also said the teenagers deliberately selected those who were shorter and seemed weaker. They avoided those who were taller and bigger.

STILL WENT TO WORK

The court heard that both foreign workers returned to their dormitories after the senseless attacks.

They did not seek medical treatment despite their injuries. Instead, they reported for work because they did not want to lose any income.

DPP Lai said Lim targeted foreign workers because he had negative encounters with them in the past involving a "staring incident".

No other details were given.

Lim's lawyer, Mr Luke Lee, told Judge Lim that his client's two victims suffered minor injuries.

He said that Lim's parents will compensate the two foreign workers $250 each.

They are due to pass the money to the investigating officer today.

The case involving Tan is still pending.

The two 15-year-olds have been dealt with in court and were each put on probation for 18 months.

For voluntarily causing hurt, Lim can be jailed up to two years and fined up to $5,000.

ashaffiq@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on March 03, 2015.
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