Mohammad Arif Ismail, 40, was sentenced on May 21, 2026, to 20 weeks in jail after pleading guilty to three charges: uttering words to wound racial feelings, assaulting an elderly man, and theft [1, 2, 3].
On March 20, 2026, Arif verbally abused a 14-year-old boy wearing a kippah aboard bus service 858. He used vulgar language and a lewd hand gesture directed unprovoked at the boy, who was identified as Jewish [1, 2, 3]. Deputy Public Prosecutor Khong Zi-Wei said, "The accused had intentionally directed the offensive words and gesture at the victim, completely unprovoked, and did so in a manner calculated to injure (him) in light of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict" [1].
In addition to the verbal abuse, Arif assaulted a 79-year-old man in October 2025 at a taxi stand on Commonwealth Avenue. He punched and kicked the elderly stranger, causing injury to the man's right elbow [1, 2, 3].
On November 7, 2025, Arif stole two bottles of liquor valued at over $100 from a supermarket on Tanglin Road [1, 2, 3].
Arif had a prior conviction relating to racial offense. In May 2024, he pleaded guilty to uttering words intended to wound the religious feelings of a 34-year-old Israeli man and received a three-week jail sentence [1, 2, 3].
During sentencing on May 21, 2026, Arif was not represented by a lawyer. He pleaded for leniency and stated he would not re-offend [1, 2, 3].
The court combined the three charges into the 20-week jail term.
Timeline: - May 2024: Guilty plea for racial verbal abuse against an Israeli man, 3 weeks jail - October 2025: Assaulted a 79-year-old man at Commonwealth Avenue taxi stand - November 7, 2025: Stole liquor worth over $100 from Tanglin Road supermarket - March 20, 2026: Verbally abused a 14-year-old Jewish boy on bus 858 - May 21, 2026: Sentenced to 20 weeks’ jail after guilty pleas to all charges
Arif’s sentence brings closure to a series of offenses spanning over two years.
