A brush with an armed gangster stiffened youth’s resolve to be a crime fighter

A February 2009 encounter at Simei MRT station reinforced 21 year old Ong Jin Wen's decision to be a crime fighter.

“A gangster who was about 15 years old claimed that I stared at him, and whipped out a knife that was approximately 20 centimetres in length. We exchanged words and he challenged me to stay put as he sought reinforcements,” he recalled.

Several thoughts passed through Mr Ong’s mind at that juncture.

The first was to challenge the other party to a fight, which Mr Ong was confident of winning as the gangster was “smaller in size”.

The second option was to leave the scene quickly while the third was to call the police.

Mr Ong chose to call the police.

Within 10 minutes, the suspect was arrested.

“I chose to call the police because I do not want to take things into my own hands. At the same time, I cannot let him off so easily. He was armed and was a danger to the community. I cannot allow the possibility of him stabbing others,” Mr Ong said.

Mr Ong, who is now pursuing a diploma in retail management at Temasek Polytechnic, is on his way to fulfilling that goal.

He was one of the 10 students who received the Home Team Merit Award (Polytechnic), or HOME Award (Polytechnic), in August 2010.

ORIGINAL SOURCE

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