SINGAPORE — Hotel guest Ion Orchar, 23, has been released on bail after being among 22 people charged in court in relation to the Dec. 3 Orchard Towers attack, which left one Indian national dead and another critically injured.
The Singapore permanent resident from Malaysia, whose real name is Muhammad Irfan Abd Aziz, along with Muhammad Nur Farhan Awaludin, 22, and Mohamad Fazly Abdul Rahman, 23, were released on a bail of S$15,000 and S$10,000 each on Dec. 13, 2022.
Seventeen other individuals, including the remaining 19 accused linked to the attack, were earlier granted bail of between S$10,000 and S$60,000.
The 22 suspects, aged between 19 and 37, face a range of charges, including murder with common intention, attempted murder with common intention, voluntarily causing grievous hurt, and rioting.
The murder charge carries the death penalty or life imprisonment, while the attempted murder charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail or life imprisonment.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Dec. 3, 2022, at Orchard Towers, a shopping and entertainment complex along Orchard Road, Singapore’s main shopping belt.
According to court documents, a private dispute between two groups of men escalated into a violent confrontation involving more than 30 people.
The victim, 31-year-old S. Karthigaiyan, a Chennai native residing in Singapore, was found lying motionless in front of the main entrance of Orchard Towers along Claymore Drive.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
A second victim, 33-year-old S. Periyasamy, also from Chennai, was found with multiple slash wounds.
He underwent emergency surgery and remained in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Singapore General Hospital.
Some of the accused are believed to be members of a secret society.
On Dec. 10, The Straits Times reported that a 21-year-old suspect known only as Muhammad Ridzuan was allegedly linked to the society, which has been active in Singapore since the 1980s.
The police have said that they are investigating the alleged involvement of secret societies in the attack.
The case has been adjourned to Jan. 17, 2023, for further mention.
Reactions to the arrests and charges have been mixed, with some netizens expressing anger and demanding justice for the victims, while others have cautioned against making hasty judgments based on the charges alone and called for due process to be followed.
The incident has also reignited calls for stricter laws to deter violence and gang-related activities in Singapore.
In the wake of the attack, the Singapore Police Force has stepped up patrols in the Orchard Road area and is working with the community to prevent further incidents.
The police have also urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
The Orchard Towers attack is a reminder of the dangers of violence and the need for strong community partnerships to maintain peace and safety in Singapore..
