Jail, caning for 5 men who rained blows on ex-bouncer in 2023

Orchard Road fatal brawl

- Shaffiq Alkhatib

Five men linked to a 2023 fatal brawl around Concorde Hotel were sentenced to jail and caning on Feb 25. They had rained blows on a former bouncer who was allegedly killed later by another member of their group.

Three of the men - Sridharan Elangovan, 30, Manojkumar Velayanatham, 32, and Sashikumar Pakirsamy, 34 - were repeat offenders.

The trio were also members of a secret society at the time of the attack on Mr Mohammad Isrrat Mohd Ismail, 29, which took place on the morning of Aug 20, 2023.

Sridharan, who was fined $4,500 in 2022 for voluntarily causing hurt, was sentenced to three years' jail and six strokes of the cane on Feb 25.

Manojkumar was sentenced to 2 1/2 years' jail and four strokes of the cane. He was fined $3,000 in 2019 for assault.

Sashikumar, who was fined $3,000 in 2014 for using threatening words on a public servant, was sentenced to two years' jail and two strokes of the cane for his latest offence.

In sentencing the trio, District Judge Eddy Tham said the fact that they were secret society members at the time of the 2023 riot was not taken into consideration.

The judge added that their offences were not initiated by a gang leader and noted that it was Mr Isrrat's group that had decided to arm themselves that morning.