Prosecution for Hirers of Bicycles Who Damage Bicycles Illegally
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the potential prosecution of rental bicycle hirers who illegally damage, dismantle, or convert shared bicycles for their personal use. Mr Lim Biow Chuan inquired whether the Government would take more stringent punitive action against culprits to deter such blatant disregard for property. Parliamentary Secretary Mr Amrin Amin stated that the Police investigate reported offences and consult the Attorney-General’s Chambers to determine prosecution based on facts, noting that a recent case of a bicycle thrown from a building resulted in a nine-week jail sentence. He added that the Police will work with the Ministry of Transport on enforcement while emphasizing that rental companies and hirers must take responsibility.
Transcript
3 Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Government will prosecute hirers of rental bicycles who damage, dismantle or dispose of bicycles illegally or convert them for their own use.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Amrin Amin) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): The Police will conduct an investigation if a case is reported and a criminal offence is committed. Based on the facts of the case, the Police will consult the Attorney-General's Chambers, who will decide whether to prosecute the persons involved, whether the offender is a hirer or not.
This approach is no different from how we deal with other offences. For example, last month, the Police investigated two cases at Jalan Tenteram and Upper Boon Keng, where rental bicycles were thrown from buildings. The person arrested for the Upper Boon Keng case was charged in Court and he was convicted of a rash act and sentenced to nine weeks' jail. For the Jalan Tenteram case, an arrest was also made and investigations are ongoing.
However, prosecution by itself will not eliminate the problem of misuse or abuse of the rental bicycles. The bicycle rental companies and the hirers have to take responsibility to ensure the appropriate use of the rental bicycles.
Mdm Speaker: Mr Lim Biow Chuan.
Mr Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten): Mdm Speaker, there were several reports in the newspapers about bicycles having been dismantled, having had their Global Positioning System (GPS) devices removed, and some are thrown into the river and so on. Surely, the Police ought to take punitive action. If we do nothing, then it may be seen that we are tolerating, we are accepting behaviour that totally disregards the rights of the owners of bicycles. If we allow such behaviour to continue, then, today, it may be those bike-sharing companies; tomorrow, it will be some other illegal activity.
I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether the Police would take a more stringent approach against culprits who abuse shared bicycles, who remove and dismantle them or who basically convert the shared bicycles to their own use and leave these bicycles at home. To me, this is theft, this is conversion.
Mr Amrin Amin: I thank the Member for raising the issue. It is an issue that we take seriously and we will work closely with the Ministry of Transport to conduct enforcement action. Where necessary, we will take punitive action to deter such acts.