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SINGAPORE – Upset that she was unable to get a discounted Huawei phone for S $ 54 as advertised, a woman displayed rowdy behavior and scolded the store manager before fighting with the police.
For her crimes, Ng Puay Chin, 54, was sentenced on Thursday (October 22) to two weeks in jail and a fine of S $ 1,000.
She pleaded guilty to one count of using criminal force against a police officer and using insulting words against the Huawei store manager. Three other charges were considered.
The court heard that Huawei had announced a promotion for the Huawei Y6 Pro 2019, which generally sold for S $ 198, to mark Singapore’s 54th National Day in July 2019. It was available to Singapore citizens and 50 permanent residents. years or more.
READ: Anger and frustration as long lines form in Singapore for a Huawei S $ 54 phone
Ng, who was unemployed at the time, showed up at Huawei’s store at Jem Mall in Jurong, hoping to get a phone. There were hundreds of people queuing outside the store before it opened.
Only issued tickets could buy the phone, and the rest were asked to disperse.
When the store opened at 11 a.m., Ng rushed inside along with the crowd and called the store manager a liar and a scammer, demanding that they give him a phone.
She made those around her hostile towards the manager, who was distraught and asked her to leave.
Police were called in to control the crowd and attend to the dispute, but Ng refused to leave even when the shutters were closed to everyone except those with tickets.
When warned that she could be arrested, Ng raised her voice and said that she was in her 50s and that she was a woman, and that everyone was watching.
He hid under a table and continued to gather the crowd, and was very uncooperative, Assistant District Attorney Grace Teo said.
She fought violently and was eventually contained, but continued to yell at passersby that Huawei was a scammer.
READ: Woman who failed to get S $ 54 Huawei phone arrested after causing commotion
Ms Teo noted the public unrest caused, noting that Ng had “rallied members of the public to her side” and “heightened emotions.”
CONTRIBUTED TO CHAOS: FISCAL
She contributed to the chaos of the moment and appeared to be blaming Huawei and the police for siding with Huawei, Teo said.
“In the pictures, he had asked the police officers to get him the phone. This is not the job of the police,” he said. “If everyone argued like her, the police could not contain the situation.”
Customers queue up at Huawei’s Vivo City store to get their hands on a S $ 54 Y6 Pro 2019 smartphone (Photo: Ruth Smalley)
He added that it was not a case of the police giving unequivocal advice to Ng, but of “absolute disobedience.”
Defense attorney Tan Hee Joek said his client, as a layman, was not sure whether it was the police’s job to help Huawei and thought the police could intercede.
In response, District Judge Toh Han Li said the point was that only those who received tickets to redeem the phone could stay, and Ng did not get one.
“There was another video recording where she was asking for tickets so she knew she wasn’t meant to be there but she insisted on having a phone and she couldn’t get a ticket and she wasn’t happy about it,” she said. Judge.
SHE WAS CONTINUOUSLY CHALLENGING: JUDGE
He said he could not agree with the defense that the crimes were committed in “fear and panic”, noting that Ng’s attitude was “continually defiant” towards the police.
“Her verbal exchanges with the police lasted about 15 minutes, culminating in her being transferred to the back of a table in an attempt to thwart the efforts of the police by asking her to leave, otherwise she would be arrested,” Judge Toh said.
A sign at Huawei’s Jurong Point store says that all Y6 Pro 2019 phones are out of stock. (Photo: Darius Boey)
He added that Ng continued to shout “challenging words” while under the table, such as “all of you look and help me” and “what a shame, write this down.”
“It took three policemen to arrest her after she fought,” the judge said, adding that it is of “vital importance that the police are adequately protected in the performance of their duties.”
He said a fine requested by the defense was not justified because there was a “clear defiance” of authority, but noted that Ng pleaded guilty and expressed regret for his behavior.
Ng asked to speak and did so excitedly, saying: “Now I look at the video, I am very ashamed of myself. I do not intend to hurt the police officer.”
The judge granted him a postponement of his jail sentence until November 5.
For using criminal force against a public servant, she could have been imprisoned for up to four years, fined, or both. For using insulting words, she could have been jailed for up to six months, fined up to S $ 5,000, or both.
