Teenager alleged to have vandalised a HDB block allowed to see lawyer

One of the teenagers alleged to have vandalised a HDB block in Toa Payoh last week has been allowed to see his lawyer but the bid to withhold his name, on account that he is a minor, was dismissed.

David Graaskov, 17, is accused, with four other teenagers of the same age, of spray-painting graffiti at the top of Block 85A, Toa Payoh Lorong 4, including expletives directed towards the People’s Action Party and the police last week.

Lawyer Choo Zheng Xi made the court application to see Graaskov, after he was denied access to his client last week.

At a hearing in a district court this morning (May 14), the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said Mr Choo would be granted access to his client today.

But Deputy Public Prosecutor Tang Shangjun argued against the gag order, noting that these were usually for protecting victims, and not accused persons, of crimes.

The judge also questioned how a gag order would be helpful at this stage, given that Mr Choo’s client’s name and pictures have already been exposed on several websites.

Graaskov was also allowed one phone call to his parents.

The other four accused of the vandalism are Boaz Koh Wen Jie, Chay Nam Shen, Goh Rong Liang and Reagan Tan Chang Zhi.

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