Gang members slash and stab teen while he's sleeping

Their unsuspecting victim was sleeping at home when they went up to his bedroom and attacked him with a knife.

The fact that the teenager's father was in the flat at that time did not deter the trio from carrying out the brazen attack.

One of 17-year-old Sean Lavin Pasion Emile's attackers, Sivakandesh, 21, was jailed for two years and ordered to receive 12 strokes of the cane yesterday. He pleaded guilty to one count each of voluntarily causing hurt with a weapon and being in possession of a chopper in a public place.

Alleged accomplices Guru Aravind, 20, is on the run, while 24-year-old Jai Ganesh Tanapolan's case is still pending.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Claire Poh said the three attackers were members of the same gang.

Sivakandesh was just released from reformative training on Nov 5 last year, after he was convicted in court in 2012 for offences including rioting and causing hurt.

But he did not learn his lesson, for he reoffended less than two weeks after his release.

Sivakandesh went to Sean's flat at Block 112, Bishan Street 12, with Guru and Jai Ganesh at around 3pm on Nov 18 last year, to confront the teenager.

The New Paper understands that this was due to a personal dispute between Sean and Sivakandesh.

Sean's father, Mr Lawrence Emile Charles, 61, allowed the trio into the flat and they made their way to Sean's bedroom.

At that time, one of his friends, Mr Joshua Navindran Surainthiran, 22, was also sleeping in the same room.

Sean was jolted awake by a punch to his face and noticed that Jai Ganesh was carrying the 10cm-long knife.

The men shouted at him in Tamil before Jai Ganesh used the weapon to cut his face. Sivakandesh then punched his face while Guru kicked his body.

Jai Ganesh passed the knife to Sivakandesh who started attacking the teenager's face.

Sean tried to block the attack but ended up getting the fourth finger of his left hand cut.

The weapon was then handed over to Guru who stabbed him once on his left thigh.

PAIN

Sean shouted in pain and his father rushed into the room.

His attackers ran out of the flat and Mr Charles called for an ambulance.

DPP Poh said that Mr Joshua Navindran also left the flat soon afterwards and there is a warrant of arrest against him.

Sivakandesh, was arrested by the police in Clarke Quay on Nov 27 last year, after he was spotted carrying a chopper.

Before handing out the sentence, District Judge Ng Peng Hong said he was the one who sentenced Sivakandesh to reformative training in 2012, as he wanted to save the young man from getting caned.

The judge said: "You are a great disappointment to me."

For voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon, Sivakandesh could have been jailed up to seven years, fined, caned, or receive any combination of such punishments.

ashaffiq@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Mar 18, 2015.
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