Muhammad Noorarman Shah Anwar (left) was sentenced to four weeks’ jail, while Muhammad Amali Abdul Halim was sentenced to a week’s jail. - Photo: ST
SINGAPORE: An Aetos officer who posed for photos and videos with a loaded gun and a ski mask at Woodlands Checkpoint was sentenced to four weeks’ jail on Wednesday (Feb 5).
Muhammad Noorarman Shah Anwar, 23, pleaded guilty to taking a photo of the checkpoint, which is a protected place.
Another charge of endangering his colleague’s safety by pointing the firearm at him was taken into consideration during sentencing.
His colleague, Muhammad Amali Abdul Halim, also 23, was sentenced to a week’s jail.
At the time of the offences, Noorarman and Amali were assigned to screen cars and motorcycles at the checkpoint.
As part of his duties, Noorarman was issued a service revolver.
On Sept 28, 2024, both men were on duty when Noorarman said that it would be a “cool idea” to post some photos and videos of him in the Woodlands Checkpoint booth wearing a ski mask.
He asked Amali to help him with this, and the latter agreed.
Noorarman then took a ski mask, which he had prepared in advance, went inside a booth and pointed his gun at Amali while posing for the camera.
Noorarman also got Amali to take photos of him pretending to load rounds into the revolver.
Noorarman then told Amali to take a video of him while approaching the booth as a traveller would.
While Amali took the video, Noorarman pointed his fully loaded revolver at him through the glass of the booth.
In detailing their offences on Feb 5, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) June Ngian said the men did this to amuse themselves, and knew they were not authorised to take photos at Woodlands Checkpoint.
Despite Amali advising Noorarman not to post the photos and videos on social media, Noorarman uploaded them on Instagram as he thought the attention would be “cool and funny”, the DPP added.
Noorarman removed the photos and videos from Instagram after one of his friends advised him to do so.
The pair’s officer-in-charge at Aetos made a police report two days later. Their employment was also terminated, Aetos said in October 2024 when the duo were first charged.
Seeking six to eight weeks’ jail for Noorarman, DPP Ngian said he was no ordinary citizen but was, in fact, deployed to ensure the safety of the Woodlands Checkpoint.
She said: “He had breached the trust that was placed in him to carry out his duties and left the checkpoint unattended while play-acting with his co-accused.
“Although he eventually took down the content (on Instagram), these photos and videos could have caused serious security issues for the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.”
DPP Ngian sought a sentence of two to four weeks’ jail for Amali, acknowledging that he was not the main driver of the plan and had largely gone with Noorarman’s instructions as they were friends.
For taking a photo in a protected place without authorisation, an offender can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to S$20,000, or both. - The Straits Times/ANN
