Four ex-SMRT bus drivers involved in strike set to plead guilty

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http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/four-ex-smrt-bus-drivers-involved-strike-set-plead-guilty

Four former SMRT bus drivers, who are in the dock for their alleged roles in the illegal strike in November last year, indicated yesterday that they will plead guilty on Monday.

He Jun Ling, 32; Gao Yue Qiang, 32; Liu Xiangying, 33; and Wang Xian Jie, 39; who are all China nationals, were arrested after allegedly inciting and participating in the strike on Nov 26, during which 171 SMRT bus drivers staged a sit-in over pay raises and living conditions in their dormitories.

The protest had affected service levels by about 10 per cent.

The case had been set to go to trial on March 4, with two of the ex-drivers also alleging last month that they were assaulted by police investigators while in custody.

But yesterday, their lawyers asked the prosecution for the various sentencing options — usually the final step in the legal process before one submits his mitigation plea.

Under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act, each bus driver faces up to S$2,000 in fines or up to 12 months in jail, or both, for each charge.