Cat cruelty in Yishun

New fast-response team to probe Yishun cat deaths
More high-resolution cameras also installed in estate after spate of attacks on felines
By Ng Huiwen, The Straits Times, 16 Dec 2015

A new grassroots fast-response team has been set up to patrol parts of Nee Soon and gather evidence after a spate of cat deaths in the estate in the last three months.

Mr Louis Ng, an MP for Nee Soon GRC, said on Tuesday that additional high-resolution cameras have also been installed around the neighbourhood.

He said this will complement efforts by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and the police to catch the serial cat killers, who have struck 17 times since September. Only one of the 17 cats survived the attacks.

The latest case happened on Saturday - a cat was found dead in a multi-storey carpark at Block 115B along Yishun Ring Road.

It is believed that the cat, which had suffered extensive bleeding, was thrown from a height.

Since September, other cats have been found with severe trauma to the head and back, injuries to the intestinal organs, gouged eyes and chopped limbs. One was strangled.

The fast-response team comprises about 30 grassroots volunteers, cat feeders and residents.

Once the team has been alerted to a case, some members will go to the location quickly and speak to residents there. They will also leave notices on nearby vehicles to ask motorists to review their in-car camera footage for evidence.

Mr Ng, who is the founder and executive director of the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society, said that there are a few suspects at this point.

"We are following up on every single lead. Some suspects have been identified and interviewed as well, but so far, CCTV reviews have been inconclusive," he said.

He stressed that to prosecute any offender, the AVA - which is leading the investigation - would need direct verifiable evidence such as videos and photographs.

Ms Janet Sum, 53, a volunteer and founder of Facebook group Yishun 326 Tabby cat, called for more volunteers to join the response team.

The private tutor noted that the current group of volunteers is "overwhelmed and overstretched", with six regular volunteers patrolling a few HDB blocks between 1am to 4am almost every night.

"Even then, we are unable to cover all the areas that we hope to target," she said.

"We've observed the suspects and they move out between 2am and 4am. We need to get close enough to get a picture or video but that is difficult."

She said that recent cat deaths have become "more cruel" and "more bold", a sign that the suspects remain undeterred.

Members of the public with any information on the deaths of the cats can call the AVA on 1800-476-1600 or e-mail ava_cawc@ava.gov.sg.

[Who is this cat and what’s happening to our cats?] Many of you have asked me about this photo. It was actually taken...
Posted by Louis Ng Kok Kwang on Tuesday, December 15, 2015

The Police have arrested a 40-year-old man believed to be involved in a series of cruelty to animal cases in Yishun on...
Posted by Singapore Police Force on Monday, December 28, 2015

"I am delighted that there is progress and I thank the AVA, the Singapore Police Force and volunteers from the cat...
Posted by Channel NewsAsia Singapore on Monday, December 28, 2015

He willl be charged in court by AVA tomorrow over alleged animal cruelty.
Posted by The Straits Times on Monday, December 28, 2015

While this is good news, let's not let our guard down and remain vigilant. Thank you everyone!"The important part is...
Posted by Louis Ng Kok Kwang on Monday, December 28, 2015

JUST IN: Alleged cat abuser, 40-year-old Lee Wai Leong, has been charged in court for throwing a male cat from the 13th...
Posted by Channel NewsAsia Singapore on Monday, December 28, 2015

The latest cat abuse case, which was discovered around 3pm today, is the 20th such incident since September. This map marks the location of all the cases reported: http://str.sg/ZrYz
Posted by The Straits Times on Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Lee Wai Leong is the first person to be hauled to court under the new Animals and Birds Act, which was amended last year to toughen penalties against those convicted of animal cruelty. http://str.sg/ZrTh
Posted by The Straits Times on Monday, December 28, 2015

* Pro bono lawyer for suspected cat abuser

By Pearl Lee, The Straits Times, 4 Jan 2016

The man suspected of hurling a cat to its death from the 13th floor of a Housing Board block in Yishun will be represented pro bono by criminal lawyer Josephus Tan.

Lee Wai Leong, 40, was charged with one count of animal cruelty last Tuesday over the incident on Oct 30 last year.

Mr Tan said yesterday that he met Lee's family last Saturday to discuss the case.

Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam referred to a recent spate of cat killings in Yishun in a Facebook note yesterday.

Cat cruelty in Yishun. And a question of moral duty---------- For several weeks many of us have been horrified by the...
Posted by K Shanmugam Sc on Sunday, January 3, 2016

At least 20 cats have been found dead or seriously injured in the area in the last three months. Last Wednesday, a day after Lee was charged, a tabby cat was found dead at Block 734, Yishun Avenue 5, with blood on its ears and mouth.

Mr Shanmugam said he, like many, was "horrified by the appalling cruelty, in the mutilation and killing of many cats in Yishun", describing it as "shocking, sickening".

He said Lee's family, who live in his Nee Soon GRC constituency, told his volunteers that Lee has the mentality of a child and suffers from epileptic fits and seizures. He said "it is very clear that my duty is to help Mr Lee get a lawyer". "The court can then get all the facts and decide on the question of whether he is guilty, as well as the appropriate sentence, if he is found guilty."

Lawyer Josephus Tan said he went through documents with the family of Lee Wai Leong, who was charged with animal cruelty on Dec 29.
Posted by The Straits Times on Sunday, January 3, 2016

Mr Tan said Lee's family had sought help at a Meet-the-People Session as they face financial challenges in engaging a lawyer.

He said of taking the case: "I'm a big advocate of pro bono work and it's the right thing to do. There are always two sides to a coin."

Lee is currently being remanded for psychiatric assessment at the Institute of Mental Health.