T
Taigong Wang
Guest
Apr 12, 2011
Spared jail for bribery bid because of ill health
By Khushwant Singh
Ng Bee Teng, 70, was only fined $4,000 on Tuesday because of his medical condition. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
OFFENDERS could be jailed up to five years for trying to bribe a police officer but Ng Bee Teng, 70, was only fined $4,000 on Tuesday because of his medical condition.
District Judge Hamidah Ibrahim noted Ng's poor health when passing sentence.
Defence counsel Troy Yeo told the court that a medical report from the National Heart Centre confirmed the seriousness of his client's medical condition and the necessity of constant medication to prevent a relapse or even death. In addition to heart disease, Ng suffers from diabetes.
At about 12.30pm on July 5, 2010, his car had been involved in an accident. While parking at a carpark in Bukit Panjang, he had inadvertently stepped on the accelerator instead of the brakes. The vehicle mounted the kerb and damaged a road bollard. A tyre was also punctured.
Ng then left the car and went to do his errands. Upon his return, he saw Corporal Roslan Abdul Rasip making arrangements to tow the vehicle. Pleading to the officer not to issue a summons, he placed three $10 notes on the seat on the corporal's Traffic Police motorcycle.
The court heard that Ng had already been fined $600 for careless driving and causing the accident. Asking the court to consider a one-day jail term coupled with a fine, Deputy Public Prosecutor Navin S. Thevar said there were valid grounds for the court to exercise judicial mercy.
