Resshmi B Rasmi, 21, pleaded guilty to one charge of causing hurt to deter a public servant. (Yahoo News Singapore file photo)

SINGAPORE — A 21-year-old woman charged at a policeman before grabbing him by the neck in a chokehold, a court heard.

When other officers tried to arrest her, Resshmi B Rasmi, 21, swung her arms around, smacking another policeman’s hand. She was eventually arrested by five police officers.

At the State Courts on Wednesday (26 June), Resshmi was jailed for three months after she pleaded guilty to one charge of causing hurt to deter a public servant. Another count of using criminal force to deter a public servant was considered in sentencing.

On 27 October 2018, at about 10.10am, police got a call regarding a commotion in front of Naughty Girl, a nightclub at Orchard Towers.

Station inspector Gerald Chan Wee Ming, 42, and sergeant Chng Yong En, 21, were dispatched to the scene.

The officers arrived about 10 minutes later and saw a scuffle between at least six people, including Resshmi. They tried to figure out what was going on.

Suddenly, an unknown man who was among those who were scuffling ran towards a nearby toilet. The others then followed him there.

“Fearful of losing control of the situation, Chan and Chng followed the group and stood guard outside the toilet. They then called for backup,” said Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Zhi Hao.

“The group became increasingly rowdy. Chan and Chng sought to dissuade them from leaving the toilet, and blocked the exit of the toilet,” the prosecutor added.

The two policemen again tried to assess the situation, but the group refused to comply and tried to push their way out of the toilet.

Resshmi, who was standing at the back of the group, then pushed herself through the group and charged at Chan. She pushed him on the chest with so much force that he staggered backwards.

She then charged at Chan again before grabbing him by the neck in a chokehold and pressing him against a wall.

The station inspector managed to break free and warned the assailant several times to calm down but she continued to behave aggressively.

Chan then told Chng and a policewoman who had arrived, sergeant Genevlene Ho Ting En, 19, to arrest Resshmi.

But the assailant refused to comply and became violent, swinging her arms around at police officers. In the midst of her struggle, she smacked Chng’s hand. Resshmi was eventually arrested by five police officers.

Chan had a 3cm bruise and a scratch mark over his chest. He was given two days of medical leave.

For causing hurt to deter a public servant, Resshmi could have been jailed for up to seven years and fined.

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