SINGAPORE — When her sister could not handle her violent behaviour and called the police, Katie Christina Rakich continued to behave like a thug, biting a policewoman’s arm so hard that the officer got a tetanus vaccination jab later as a precaution.

In the lockup area, the 27-year-old also punched another officer in the ear.

On Monday (Oct 14), the New Zealander was sentenced to 26 weeks’ jail — or about six months — after pleading guilty to causing hurt to a public servant. Two other similar charges were taken into consideration for sentencing.

The court heard that Rakich landed in Singapore on June 15 and arrived at her sister’s home at about 7.30am, already slightly drunk. Her sister works in Singapore as a teacher.

Rakich then went out for dinner with her family, drank some beer, and had another round of drinks at a bar afterwards.

BECAME HYSTERICAL

The group returned to her sister’s home at about 2am, where Rakich grew upset over something her sister said and began creating a ruckus. Her family members tried to calm her down but to no avail.

Two police officers arrived at about 3am after her sister decided to call the police for help.

When the officers asked Rakich for her particulars, she looked for her passport but grew agitated again after her sister said that she did not want her in the house.

Rakich picked up a glass of water and threw it at her sister, but the sister’s boyfriend stepped in to deflect it with his palm.

Seeing this, the officers decided to arrest Rakich. She proved uncooperative and they had to pull her to the police car.

Throughout their journey to the police station in Woodlands, she became hysterical and insisted on her mobile phone being returned to her. 

When she was about to be brought out of the car, one of the officers reached out to support her by her shoulders as a safety precaution. Rakich then abruptly turned her head and bit the female officer’s forearm.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Benedict Teong told the court: “The bite was very forceful and caused the victim great pain. The accused did not let go for over 10 seconds while the victim was screaming at her in pain.”

Another officer intervened to get Rakich to let go. She smirked and stared at her victim after doing so, and went on to punch a third officer in the ear later.

The officer who was bitten was given a tetanus vaccine and hepatitis vaccine, as she was concerned about getting blood-borne communicable diseases.

‘NOT HOSTILE OR VIOLENT PERSON’

DPP Teong sought at least eight months’ jail, while Rakich’s lawyer SS Dhillon asked for five months behind bars instead.

In mitigation, Mr Dhillon told District Judge Marvin Bay that Rakich was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2013 and “often shouts at friends and family, is irritable… and gets into behaviour which she subsequently regrets”.

The lawyer added: “While we accept that her intoxication was not an excuse or defence for her unfortunate acts, it’s due to this (mental condition) that led her to behave in an irrational manner.

“Truth be told, she is by nature not a hostile or violent person. In all the organisations she worked in, she showed exemplary conduct.”

Rakich has not been examined by a psychiatrist here after being placed in remand since committing her offences. Mr Dhillon explained that there were no facilities for such an evaluation and his client could not afford it anyway.

During sentencing, District Judge Bay took note of Rakich’s condition and told her that he hoped she would find a way not to get into trouble again.

For causing hurt to a public servant, she could have been jailed up to seven years, or fined, or both.