Assailant who struck PAP MP at Meet-the-People session remanded at Institute of Mental Health

32-year-old Mohammad Ameen Mohamed Maideen was charged this Wednesday for voluntarily causing hurt to Jurong GRC parliamentarian Dr Tan Wu Meng during a Meet-the-People session on Monday.

The court heard that the incident occurred around 10.10pm at the session that was held at Block 334 Clementi Avenue 2, when Ameen rushed in, grabbed Dr Tan forcefully around the neck, slammed him backwards against the wall, and punched his body repeatedly.

The incident has been described as an “unprovoked assault” by some MPs who spoke to reporters. Fellow Jurong GRC MP, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Tharman Shanmugaratnam, called the incident “completely unacceptable” in a Facebook post shortly after.

Dr Tan reportedly fell to the ground while residents and volunteers at the session tried to restrain the assailant. The victim suffered bruises and “some abrasions” on his neck, which he has deemed “minor injuries”. Following the incident, the People’s Action Party (PAP) MP visited the A&E department of a local hospital but returned to his MPS to see more residents and finish writing appeal letters for his residents.

Ameen, who is also accused of criminal trespass, is presently remanded at the Institute of Mental Health. He will return to court on 2 May. Dr Tan has said that he will try to help Ameen get back on track no matter the outcome: “Whatever the outcome under the law, I hope he can get back on track and will try to help him do so.”

Ameen may face a maximum jail terms of 2 years and/or a fine of up to $5000 if convicted of voluntarily causing hurt. If convicted of criminal trespass, he may face a maximum jail terms of 3 months and/or a fine of up to $1500.

https://theindependent.sg.sg/assailant-who-suddenly-pummeled-pap-mp-at-meet-the-people-session-has-been-arrested/