Man facing charges after allegedly starting fire outside mosque in Raffles Place

Martin See Hock Leng is facing charges of causing or contributing to the risk of a dangerous fire, using insulting words, and two counts of theft.

ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Published Sep 27, 2026, 02:30 PM

Updated Sep 27, 2026, 02:30 PM

SINGAPORE – A man was on Sept 26 charged over a fire he allegedly started by burning an undergarment at the entrance of a mosque in Raffles Place.

The insulting words were directed at a man in Novena Church on June 24.

See is said to have told the man, who was kneeling and praying at the time: “You are Hindu. You go out immediately.”

The judge ordered the accused to be remanded at the Institute of Mental Health for a medical examination. His case will be mentioned again in Oct.

According to court documents, the fire was lit at around 8.05pm on Sept 25 outside Masjid Moulana Mohamed Ali, which is located at the basement of UOB Plaza at 80 Raffles Place.

Police in a statement said the fire was put out by a member of public. No injuries were reported.

The theft charges relate to offences which occurred just days apart in May.

See is said to have stolen an eyewear frame, worth $249, from a retail shop at Mandarin Gallery in Orchard Road on Sept 16, and a $15 silver necklace from at shop in Arab Street on May 23.

At the time of the first theft offence, See was under a remission order, which required him to keep out trouble from April 15 to May 18.

For causing or contributing to the risk of a dangerous fire, an offender can be jailed for up to a year, fined up to $5,000, or both.

For using insulting words intending to cause harassment, an offender can be jailed for up to six months, fined up to $5,000, or both.

Those convicted of theft can be jailed for up to seven years, or fined.

Martin See Hock Leng 面临造成或助长危险火灾风险、使用侮辱性言语以及两项盗窃罪的指控。

《海峡时报》摄影：KELVIN CHNG

发布于2026年9月27日下午2:30

更新于2026年9月27日下午2:30

新加坡——9月26日，一名男子被控在莱佛士坊一座清真寺入口处焚烧内衣引发火灾。

6月24日，在诺维纳教堂，一名男子遭到了侮辱性言语的攻击。

据说，See 对当时正在跪着祈祷的男子说：“你是印度教徒。你立刻出去。”

法官下令将被告送往精神卫生研究所进行医学检查。他的案件将于10月再次开庭审理。

根据法庭文件，火灾发生在 9 月 25 日晚上 8 点 05 分左右，地点位于莱佛士坊 80 号大华银行广场地下室的毛拉纳·穆罕默德·阿里清真寺外。

警方在一份声明中表示，火灾已被一名公众人士扑灭。没有人员伤亡报告。

这些盗窃指控涉及五月份相隔仅几天发生的犯罪行为。

据称，See 于 9 月 16 日在乌节路文华购物廊的一家零售店偷走了一副价值 249 美元的眼镜框，并于 5 月 23 日在阿拉伯街的一家商店偷走了一条价值 15 美元的银项链。

在第一次盗窃罪发生时，See 正处于缓刑令的约束之下，该缓刑令要求他在 4 月 15 日至 5 月 18 日期间不得惹事。

因造成或促成危险火灾风险而触犯法律者，可被判处最高一年监禁、最高 5000 美元罚款，或两者并罚。

使用侮辱性言语意图骚扰他人者，可被判处最高六个月监禁，罚款最高 5,000 美元，或两者并罚。

盗窃罪的罪犯最高可被判处七年监禁或罚款。