A Singaporean university student concerned about environmental protection believed that sport utility vehicles (SUVs) damage the environment. He stuffed mung beans into the valve stems of seven cars’ tires and left environmental pamphlets, and was fined 3,000 SGD (about 9,600 MYR).
According to Lianhe Zaobao, the defendant Xie Yilong (transliteration) was a university student at the National University at the time of the incident. He faced one charge of mischief, admitted guilt on the 6th, and was fined 3,000 SGD.
Court details reveal that the defendant was highly concerned about issues of climate change and environmental protection, and wanted SUV owners to experience inconvenience. He decided to damage the tires of cars parked near his home and placed pamphlets on these vehicles about the environmental harm caused by SUVs.
On the morning of November 19, 2024, at about 10 a.m., the defendant bought a packet of mung beans and went to two multi-story car parks at Block 519A and Block 517A on Woodlands Avenue 14. Between around 10 a.m. and noon, the defendant unscrewed the valve caps on the cars’ tires in the parking lot, placed mung beans into the valve stems, then screwed the caps back on, causing the tire pressure to slowly leak.
The defendant used the same method to let the air out of a total of seven cars’ tires. Four tires of one car were all deflated, while the other affected vehicles had one or two tires damaged. The charge sheet does not confirm whether all the damaged vehicles were SUVs.
The defendant was arrested by police at around 9 p.m. on the day of the incident.
The prosecution stated that the damage caused by the defendant was minor, he had voluntarily compensated the victims, had no prior convictions, and pleaded guilty in a timely manner. Therefore, they recommended a fine.
The defendant’s defense lawyer appealed by stating that the defendant was deeply remorseful, had apologized to all the victims and completed compensation, and hoped the judge would impose a fine of 1,500 to 2,500 SGD.