Fireworks Fiasco: Three Weeks Behind Bars for a Blazing Bad Boy
Jeevan Arjoon, a 29‑year‑old chemical surveyor, was sentenced to three weeks in prison and hit with a $5,000 fine on Thursday, April 11th. He’s guilty of two skullduggery charges: setting off fireworks in Yishun at a lit‑up midnight and lying to the cop to blame it on someone else.
What Happened?
Picture this: a late‑night visit to a Deepavali bazaar in Little India. Jeevan snags a handful of fireworks from a shady peddler, then drives over to the playground near Block 513A Yishun Street 51 to share the spark‑sadistic fun with family and friends.
At about 3:30 am on November 6th last year, the group hauled their bonfire bundle to a nearby open field and lit them off. The blaze lasted five minutes, rumbled across adjacent HDB blocks, but thankfully, there were no injuries or property damage.
The Aftermath
A resident, already on about a beat, called the police. The next day, Jeevan was pulled into an interview at Ang Mo Kio Police Division. He tried to deflect blame by claiming a 32‑year‑old named Mattavan Michael Douglas bought the fireworks. The deputy prosecutor, Jean Goh, said Jeevan was forced to shift the blame for “revenge” because he believed Mattavan had tipped off the police.
Curiously, court papers didn’t confirm whether Mattavan actually reported Jeevan, nor any background on their relationship.
Judge’s Take
District Judge Marvin Bay weighed in on Thursday. He warned that illegal pyrotechnics can cause serious injuries and start homes on fire. He called out the “night‑time fireworks” happening near a run‑of‑the‑mill public housing cluster, noting the potential panic amid heightened security concerns.
Other Fireworks Offenders
Jeevan is the third man to plead guilty to forbidden fireworks in recent weeks.
- On March 15th, a parent–son duo in Bukit Batok admitted to a pyrotechnics hijinks on November 6th. Cleaner Alagappan Singaram (54) received a $5,000 fine for discharging fireworks – the first person ever convicted under the Dangerous Fireworks Act. His son, A. Hariprasanth (19), is also slated for sentencing on April 16th.
- Six Singaporeans were on trial last November for illegal fireworks, including Elvis Xavier Fernandez (26), Thiagu Selvarajoo (30), and Siva Kumar Subramaniam (48). Thiagu was accused of setting off fireworks just before midnight on November 5th near Little India’s Gloucester Road. Siva Kumar allegedly helped him. Fernandez allegedly fired six “whistling fire sparkles” at Block 18 Joo Seng Road near Upper Aljunied Link on November 6th. Those cases are still pending.
Under the Dangerous Fireworks Act, offenders face fines ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 and up to two years in prison.
— The piece originally appeared in The Straits Times; reproduction requires permission.
