A man who orchestrated a near-fatal assault on a Sikh community radio host for his “controversial views” has been sentenced to jail for 13 years and six months.
Harnek Singh, also known as Nekki, of Radio Virsa boasts nearly half a million YouTube subscribers. Police have told the court that dissent within the Sikh community, particularly regarding his progressive views, motivated the attack.
Harnek miraculously survived the brutal attack on December 23, 2020, when three men ambushed him with bats and knives and stabbed him more than 40 times.
Following a six-week trial, the individual with name suppression was found guilty of attempted murder. Justice Mark Woolford, in a ruling on November 28, deemed the attack the most severe attempted murder case, issuing the prison sentence with a mandated minimum of nine years.
Justice Woolford emphasised the attacker’s pivotal role, noting that he did not physically launch the assault but the attackers acted on his directions.
The judge characterised the offense as embodying religious fanaticism, with the defendants morally and ideologically justifying the violence for purported greater good.
Sukhpreet Singh, found guilty of being an accessory after the fact, received a six-month home detention sentence. Sarvjeet Sidhu, who admitted his involvement prior to trial, was sentenced to nine years and six months imprisonment. Two others, Jobanpreet Singh and Hardeep Sandhu, await sentencing next year for their roles in the frenzied attack.
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