A terror since his late teens, young Sumanthiran Selvarajoo's spate of brutal misdeeds came to an apex in 2011 when he beat an innocent elderly man to death after getting irritated that the latter was chanting prayers.
Various media reports painted Sumanthiran as a promising young athlete who could have represented Singapore as a national runner. Alas, his foray into gangsterism and alcohol has since landed him in prison after being sentenced to 16 years in jail as well as 12 strokes of the cane.
It was in the wee hours of June 4, 2011, when Sumanthiran — then 18 — walked through Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West, returning home after a night out drinking. He spotted 64-year-old Loo Nam Sheng, who was praying with his palms together, chanting, and swaying his body back and forth.