Man in police car chase charged with abducting 19-year-old, possessing parang

A 38-year-old Singaporean man, Mashahri Mazlan, faces charges of abduction and possessing a scheduled weapon after a dramatic car chase through Woodlands.

The incident unfolded early Tuesday morning when police were alerted to a man being threatened by a group at a car park along Canberra Street. Investigations revealed that the victim was confronted by two men and two women over a car rental dispute. Mashahri allegedly brandished a parang, a type of sword, and forced the 19-year-old victim into a vehicle.

Mashahri then drove from Canberra Street towards Admiralty Road West and Woodlands, with the victim and a 36-year-old accomplice in the car. Police located the vehicle, but Mashahri allegedly sped off, initiating a pursuit. The chase concluded when Mashahri crashed the car into a lamppost at the junction of Woodlands Avenue 10 and Woodlands Avenue 7.

Following the crash, the 36-year-old accomplice fled on foot, but Mashahri was arrested at the scene with the parang. Further investigations led to the arrest of the accomplice and two women, aged 30 and 38. Mashahri remains remanded and will return to court next week. He faces up to seven years in jail, a fine, or caning if convicted of abduction, and a potential jail term of up to five years and at least six strokes of the cane for possessing the weapon.