SINGAPORE, Oct 7 — An Indian national was given 14 months’ jail today for participating in last December’s Little India riot, throwing a palm-sized piece of concrete in the direction of a bus.

Chinnathambi Malesan, 23, then a construction worker, is the 21st person to be convicted over the incident.

The court heard that Malesan had exited Little India MRT station at 10.15pm on December 8 last year when he saw many Indian nationals surrounding a bus along Race Course Road, with some throwing stones and bottles. He was handed a piece of concrete, which he then threw in the direction of the bus, before taking pictures of the scene “to show to (his) roommates”.

Urging the court to view Malesan’s act against the backdrop of “the worst public order disturbance in Singapore in more than four decades”, the prosecution submitted for a “substantial custodial sentence” of 18 to 24 months’ in prison.

Said Deputy Public Prosecutor Kumaresan Gohulabalan: “It is clear that the accused’s acts in joining this assembly and throwing a projectile had fuelled further public disorder and disturbance at the scene. (His) act cannot be viewed in isolation.”

Defence lawyer R Kalamohan, who was acting pro bono, pleaded for leniency as Malesan’s involvement was “minimal” and “passive”.

Mr Kalamohan added that Malesan had always exhibited good conduct at work. His employer Bohonly General Contractor had bailed him out for S$20,000 (RM51,109) as he “had full faith” that Malesan would not have participated in the riot.

A total of 25 men — all Indian nationals — were charged for their role in the Little India riot. The maximum penalty for rioting is seven years’ jail and caning. ― Today