• A 30-year-old Chinese man was arrested over alleged assault and racial slur directed at an Indian woman
• The incident happened on Choa Chu Kang Drive on May 7
• A couple allegedly confronted the woman for not wearing a mask
• The man then allegedly assaulted her and made an offensive racial remark

SINGAPORE — The police have arrested a 30-year-old Chinese man after an Indian woman was allegedly assaulted and subject to racial slurs along Choa Chu Kang Drive.

The man was arrested for public nuisance, uttering words with intent to wound the racial feelings of others and voluntarily causing hurt, the police said in a news release on Tuesday (May 11).

The 55-year-old Indian woman was reportedly walking along a walkway on Choa Chu Kang Drive last Friday at about 8.45am when she was confronted by a Chinese couple asking her to wear her mask properly, they said.

She then engaged in a verbal exchange with the man.

The man allegedly uttered an offensive racial remark and assaulted her, causing her to fall. The couple then left the scene and the woman was assisted by a member of the public.

The police said that the man has since been arrested in relation to the case.

Investigations are ongoing.

If convicted of public nuisance, he could be jailed for up to three months or fined up to S$2,000, or both.

For uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the racial feelings of any person under Section 298 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224, the man could be jailed for up to three years or fined, or both.

For voluntarily causing hurt, he could be jailed for up to three years or fined up to $5,000, or both.

The police said that they take a serious view of such acts that have the potential to damage racial harmony in Singapore.

“Any person who makes remarks or takes action that can cause ill-will and hostility between the different races will be dealt with swiftly and in accordance with the law.” 

TODAY had previously reported that Madam Hindocha Nita Vishnubhai was brisk-walking along Choa Chu Kang Drive last Friday morning when a man approached her and asked her to pull her mask up from her chin, her daughter Parveen Kaur said.

On Monday night, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and several other ministers spoke out against the alleged attack. 

Earlier on Tuesday, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said in Parliament that racism will become normalised if Singapore is not careful to address some dangerous racist comments.