Indian origin youngster to be sentenced for extortion and theft shows up in court drunk

Indian origin Naveenthiran Thevathas showed up in court intoxicated on Thursday, July 19, the day he was set to be sentenced for extortion and theft.

He was barely able to walk and had to be escorted into the State Courts by friends, family members and several security officers, Todayonline said in a report.

Naveenthiran told District Judge Kenneth Yap that he was “perfectly fine”. "I feel remorse (for) what I have done. I feel that I should serve my punishment," he said, pleading to be sentenced.

The judge rebuked him harshly and revoked his S$20,000 bail. "This is not 7-11, this is not a polyclinic. How dare you turn up inebriated… you couldn't even be bothered to turn up to court sober," Yap said.

The 21-year-old unemployed had pleaded guilty on July 9 to extorting S$2,000 from a teenage boy earlier this year, as well as stealing a POSB debit card last year. He is now in remand and is expected to be sentenced instead on Monday, July 23.

State Courts of Singapore. Photo courtesy: IMDA
State Courts of Singapore. Photo courtesy: IMDA

Naveenthiran had attempted to extort money from his 17-year-old victim on Feb 14 this year, after came across sex videos of the victim in another 18-year-old girl's mobile phone. It was not clear how the victim and the girl were related.

He demanded S$50,000 from the victim, knowing that the boy came from a well-to-do family. When Naveenthiran was arrested, he also tested positive for methamphetamine.

Last year March 16, Naveenthiran was withdrawing cash from an ATM machine at Woodlands MRT Station when he saw someone leaving his ATM card in the machine. He then stole the card and spent about S$120 on taxi rides and at convenience stores.

For extortion, Naveenthiran could be jailed up to seven years and caned. For theft, he could be jailed up to three years and/or fined.