Thursday, April 10, 2014

Justice Is Blind

This would be a real joke if not for the seriousness of the offence. Mr Mahalingam was originally arrested for rioting, then the charge was downgraded to obstruction of a public servant. He faces up to 8 years in jail and/or a fine if found guilty.

Mahalingam's alleged crime was to fail to disperse as instructed by police officers, and to insist on entering Belilios Road which had been closed off by the authorities. His lawyer said that his client was not trying to enter the road, he merely wanted to wait for his brother whom he said had gone into the area to relieve himself.

The misunderstanding could have been cleared before anyone was dragged to court. Here the laughing matter stops being funny.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Subramaniam, the officer who made the in-situ decision to arrest Mahalingam - reportedly because “no advice or persuasion was going to make him change his mind” - told the court: "I'm not able to recognise the accused now, as my encounter with him then was brief."

Special Operations Command officer Lim Ke Wei, who provided his standard issue hand-cuffs to effect the arrest, also testified in court that he could not recognise Mahalingam.

When Inspector Lee Tian Huat of the Criminal Investigation Department was asked if he had “any evidence that the accused man had used any force or any behaviour that prevented the officer from discharging his duty”, the law enforcer said, "No".

Of the 25 Indian nationals charged for various offences, from rioting to failure to disperse, 6 have pleaded guilty and sentenced to between 15 and 18 weeks’ jail. Makes you wonder how many languishing behind bars, or the lot that was so promptly deported, were positively identified.

11 comments:

  1. 3rd World or 1st World.
    You tell me lah.

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  2. Harhar! Better than the Noose.

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    Replies
    1. You are right, there are a lot of comedians in SPF. Looks like many were hired and promoted during Wong Kan Seng's watch and according to the current CP, the SPF is short of 1,000 personnel. Holyshit.



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  3. The prosecution hasn't got a beyond reasonable doubt case and still proceed with it?
    Never mind , its the people who pay for the costs

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  4. It appears that they needed to catch some scapegoats never mind whether it's justice or not. It seemed that they did not bother with any alcohol test and yet the Minster can conclude they were drunk?

    Obviously it's a case of the ends justifying the means.

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  5. Looks like somebody in the police force is "charge happy". Never mind if the framing of the charge is not water-tight, the court expenses are charged to the taxpayer anyway.

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  6. Our police sucks. Anyhow catch people?

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  7. If they are not guilty, then why did you send them home?
    But after sending them home ... how is the Committee of Inquiry going to find out what happened?

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    Replies
    1. Guess, those send back may have more damning things to tell if they were "produced" in court. Glad this "riot" occurred . For many reasons but the current #1 is that it exposes the Big screw up within the SPF . Or should we say the Home Team that was under the previous Home Affairs Minister ?

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  8. You have to ask Mr Desmond Choo's uncle Choo Wee Khiang why the police officers cannot remember:

    "One evening, I drove to Little India and it was pitch dark but not because there was no light, but because there were too many Indians around"

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  9. we all know for a long time they are called the singapore poodles force. Can't identify the people still want to charge them? Where's justice? All just for show only? Isn't it time for Teo to step in given he's the ministar for home affairs?

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