Construction worker 'attacked' 2 buses at Woodlands depot after drinking 7 cans of beer

Samuel Devaraj
The Straits Times
Nov 15, 2021

After drinking seven cans of beer at home, a construction worker headed to a Woodlands depot where he targeted two buses and caused $6,200 in damage.

He removed the windscreen wiper of one bus, and yanked out a side mirror of the other vehicle, among other acts.

On Monday (Nov 15), Zhu Honglu, 32, a Chinese national, was convicted in court of causing mischief.

A second charge of causing annoyance in a public place while drunk was taken into consideration.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Hidayat Amir told the court that Zhu stood in the middle of the road outside the bus depot in Woodlands Industrial Park at about 1.30am on Nov 22 last year.

He shouted as he ran towards an SMRT bus that was returning to the depot.

He targeted the windscreen wiper of the bus - which had stopped - and knocked on the windscreen.

DPP Hidayat said: "(Zhu) managed to remove the wiper. He then attempted to pull open the bus doors but failed."

Zhu left after some time.

About 20 minutes later, he suddenly walked in front of another SMRT bus that was being driven into the depot. The driver immediately stopped the vehicle, and was shouted at by Zhu.

He managed to remove the side mirror and used it to hit the windscreen, causing several scratches.

He then kicked the door to try to open it. When he failed to do so, Zhu pulled apart the rubber seal attached to the door.

A staff member from the SMRT operations office called the police.

Although no damage was caused to the first bus, DPP Hidayat said the other suffered damage - including to its windscreen and mirror - that needed repairs totalling $6,200.

He targeted the windscreen wiper of the bus - which had stopped - and knocked on the windscreen.

DPP Hidayat said: "(Zhu) managed to remove the wiper. He then attempted to pull open the bus doors but failed."

Zhu left after some time.

About 20 minutes later, he suddenly walked in front of another SMRT bus that was being driven into the depot. The driver immediately stopped the vehicle, and was shouted at by Zhu.

He managed to remove the side mirror and used it to hit the windscreen, causing several scratches.

He then kicked the door to try to open it. When he failed to do so, Zhu pulled apart the rubber seal attached to the door.

A staff member from the SMRT operations office called the police.

Although no damage was caused to the first bus, DPP Hidayat said the other suffered damage - including to its windscreen and mirror - that needed repairs totalling $6,200.