A National University of Singapore (NUS) student who deflated the tyres of seven cars using green beans to protest against sports utility vehicle (SUV) ownership was fined $3,000 on Thursday (Nov 6), according to Channel News Asia (CNA).
Benjamin Chia Yit Loong, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of mischief after inserting green beans into the tyre valves of several cars parked near his Woodlands home.
The court heard that Chia, a final-year physics undergraduate, was interested in climate change and environmental issues. He wanted to make SUV ownership unattractive because he believed such vehicles caused excessive environmental harm.
On the morning of Nov 19, 2024, Chia bought a packet of green beans and went to the multi-storey car parks at Blocks 519A and 517A, Woodlands Drive 14. Over about two hours, he unscrewed the tyre caps of seven cars, placed green beans inside the valves, and then replaced the caps.
He left flyers on the affected cars with the headline “Attention – your gas guzzler kills.” While he deflated all four tyres of the first car, he deflated only one or two tyres of the remaining vehicles.
One of the car owners later drove to a petrol station to reinflate the tyres. During the process, his vehicle scraped against the kerb of the car park lot, scratching the rear spat. Repairs cost $380, which Chia voluntarily compensated in full.
The prosecution sought a fine, noting that the damage was minor, that Chia had no prior convictions, and that he had compensated the victim and cooperated with investigations.
Chia’s lawyers, Anil Singh Sandhu and Nurhan Sufi, sought a fine between $1,500 and $2,500. They said Chia is in his final year of a physics degree at NUS and is a model student who consistently performs well academically.
In their mitigation plea, they said Chia had been influenced by an elective module he took in August 2024, which presented a critical view of environmental history and argued that individual actions like recycling were insufficient to address the climate crisis. The module left a strong impression on him.
The incident took place during NUS’s official “reading week,” a one-week break before examinations when there were no formal classes or structured activities. Chia reportedly felt unoccupied and emotionally unsettled due to the lack of routine and exam stress.
While researching online, Chia came across the “Tyre Extinguishers” website, which described SUVs as dangerous and environmentally harmful. The site encouraged readers to take direct action and provided step-by-step instructions on how to deflate SUV tyres using a small bean, along with downloadable leaflets to place on affected vehicles.
Chia believed this act was “non-violent and not unlawful,” said his lawyer. However, he was deeply shaken after his arrest and realised that his actions, though well-intentioned, were unlawful and misguided.
Following the incident, Chia began attending therapy sessions and has since directed his energy toward positive environmental causes. He has also written letters of apology to the victims and voluntarily compensated all affected vehicle owners.
An NUS spokesperson previously told CNA that the university would take the necessary disciplinary action following the court proceedings. CNA has contacted NUS for an update.
Under Singapore law, the offence of mischief carries a maximum penalty of two years’ jail, a fine, or both. Because Chia’s charge was amalgamated to cover multiple instances of mischief, he could have faced up to double the penalties.
Chia was fined $3,000.
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