Singapore man’s samurai sword social-media antics land him in court

Joel Ezekiel was charged in court on Monday after a police report was lodged against him for a video showing him wielding a samurai sword in public

A raid of the 49-year-old’s house uncovered more weapons, including a butterfly knife and a knuckle duster, as well as drug paraphernalia

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Screenshots of the video Joel Ezekiel posted on social media showing him slicing a plastic bottle in half with a samurai sword. Photo: Facebook/Joel Ezekiel II

Published: 3:31pm, 30 Oct 2023

A man in Singapore who posted a video of himself slicing a bottle in half using a samurai sword was charged in court on Monday after a police report was lodged against him.

Joel Ezekiel, a 49-year-old Singaporean, was handed one charge of possessing a knuckle duster without lawful purpose.

Ezekiel was remanded and appeared in court via video link, draped in a blanket or towel.

Police said in a statement that they received a report of a video on social media, showing a man wielding a samurai sword in public.

Joel Ezekiel poses for the camera before unsheathing his sword in this still from the video he posted on social media. Photo: Facebook/Joel Ezekiel II

Ezekiel’s public Facebook page includes a video that was uploaded on October 28, showing him standing at what appears to be an open area at a public-housing block.

After unsheathing the sword and laying its scabbard aside, he takes aim at an isotonic drink bottle balanced on top of a water drum placed on a stool.