(Image source from: Daily Excelsior)

In yet another instance, Singapore court has charged four Indian-origin men on Saturday for lighting fireworks on Diwali as the lighting of fireworks has been banned in the country since 1972.

The four men were involved in three separate incidents - illegal fireworks in the housing estates of Bukit Batok West, Yishun, and Joo Seng Road on Tuesday, the day Singaporeans celebrated Diwali or Deepavali.

A Hariprasanth, 18, Elvis Xavier Fernandez, 25, Jeevan Arjoon, 28, and Alagappan Singaram, 54, are accused of discharging perilous fireworks, reported The Straits Times Saturday.

On Wednesday, two other Singaporean men of Indian-origin were charged over their alleged participation in a banned fireworks display in Little India on Diwali eve.

The 29-year-old Thaigu Selvarajoo is accused of letting off dangerous fireworks while Siva Kumar Subramaniam, 48, allegedly abetted him.

Related content: 2 Indian-Origin in Singapore Jailed for Lighting Illegal Fireworks

Jeevan allegedly let off fireworks at an open field in front of Block 504B Yishun Street 51 at around 3.30 am on Tuesday.

Police said they were alerted to loud sounds in the area that morning and found cylinders containing explosive materials. They arrested Jeevan the next day.

Hariprasanth and Singaram are accused of discharging a box of "25 Shot Cake" at an open space adjacent to Block 194B Bukit Batok West Avenue 6 at around 7.40 p.m. on Tuesday.

According to court documents, Fernandez is said to have discharged a bundle of six "whistling fire sparkles" at Block 18 Joo Seng Road about three hours later. Officers arrested him on Thursday.

The four men charged on Friday were each offered bail of SGD 5,000. Jeevan will return court on November 23, while Fernandez will be back five days later.

The cases regarding Singaram and Hariprasanth have been adjourned to November 30. Siva Kumar and Selvarajoo have been remanded at Central Police Division and will be back in the court on November 14.

Court documents did not unveil how they obtained the fireworks, according to The Straits Times.

The government began regulating the use of fireworks in 1968 when the practice of lighting celebratory fireworks turned out to be an earnest public safety issue. A total ban was rolled out on August 1, 1972.

Police said, "Members of the public are reminded that it is an offense to possess, sell, transport, send, deliver, distribute or import any dangerous fireworks."

"The police have zero tolerance against acts that endanger the lives or safety of others as well as cause undue alarm to the public and will not hesitate to take action against those who blatantly disregard the law," they said.

Offenders convicted of discharging dangerous fireworks can be imprisoned for up to two years and penalized between SGD 2,000 and SGD 10,000.

-Sowmya Sangam