Just three days before he was supposed to be released, Jason Peter Darragh got his prison sentence extended for another two more months, The Straits Times reports.
The 44-year-old Australian man, who netizens have labelled as a bogan, will have to serve a longer time in jail after prosecutors appealed for a stiffer sentence. The man was initially slapped with a six-and-a-half month prison sentence for drunkenly assaulting police officers — a brawl that was caught on video and uploaded on social media, where it quickly went viral.
Justice See Kee Oon noted that Darragh had shown “contempt and disregard for the authorities”, asserting that “the court must firmly uphold their authority”, especially when it comes to law enforcement officers.
The viral video also came into discussion in court. Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Wen Hsien argued that the scuffle at the airport caused public disquiet, and the widely shared video of the brawl endangered the reputation of the police force.
For those unfamiliar with the case, here’s a timeline of Darragh’s unpleasantness across Singapore:
– Darragh flew in to Changi Airport from Perth on April 19. Singapore was his transit on the way to Cebu, Philippines, where he was meant to meet his girlfriend.
– While waiting for his flight, he drank at Changi Airport and went to Clarke Quay to continue his drinking binge.
– He returned to the airport that night, severely intoxicated. He was not able to find his way around Terminal 2.
– He asked a passerby for directions. Darragh grew angry for some reason, and used abusive language at the man before snatching his mobile phone and throwing it on the ground.
– Passerby approached police for help. Two officers confronted the intoxicated Australian, who hurled vulgarities at them.
– When one of the officers took out his handcuffs, Darragh threatened to break his face.
– Darragh put on his headphones and started dancing in an attempt to taunt the officers.
– Scuffle ensues when the cops moved in on him. He was eventually apprehended, but it took six police officers to do so.
– Even after getting released on bail, he continued to be a public nuisance. On Apr 21, he caused annoyance to the public when he got drunk near Clarke Quay.
– On Apr 26, Darragh was found drunk at Orchard Towers. He had to be taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital because of an injured leg, and verbally abused a cop who was escorting him.
– On May 1, he was so drunk at a taxi stand in Clarke Quay that he could not take care of himself, causing annoyance to the public once again.
All in all, a true bogan indeed.
