Can Minister of Law please explain why Justice Choo, a High Court judge, can make such a simple mistake? He imposed a fine of $10,000 on this PAP elite cheebye and it was pointed out to him by the defense counsel that there was NO PROVISION for a fine under the law, only jail sentence. How come the Justice Choo does not know this? It cannot be the first time he has sentenced under this particular driving law. The defense counsel, during the appeal hearing asked for no jail time, but a high fine. So, Justice Choo listened to the defence lawyer, and imposed a $10,000 fine with a minimal one day jail. Now, it turned out, that the $10,000 is not allowed. So, this cheebye escape with only a 1 day jail term. In my eyes, Justice Choo got suckered by the defense lawyer because he does not know the law. Justice Choo should have pointed out to the defense lawyer in court, that there is no provision for a heavy fine, and therefore, his client should face a longer jail term. After that, he pai seh had to remove the fine, and dare not increase the jail term. Cheebye now going to donate the $10K she would have paid to charity. Better to donate it to the family of the woman she killed. Right?
Editor gets a day's jail, $2k fine
By Selina Lum
Lim Hong Eng (left), the 56-year-old executive editor of Shin Min Daily News, was there to hear the outcome of the appeal against her sentence for knocking down and injuring a motorcyclist and killing the woman riding pillion with him. --ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
IT WAS a day of twists and turns for a newspaper editor in the High Court on Friday.
Lim Hong Eng, the 56-year-old executive editor of Shin Min Daily News, was there to hear the outcome of the appeal against her sentence for knocking down and injuring a motorcyclist and killing the woman riding pillion with him.
The appeal against her conviction was rejected, but the 11/2-year jail term dealt by a lower court was cut to a day's jail and a $12,000 fine on two charges.
Later in the morning, defence lawyers and the prosecutor ran some checks and realised that there had been a sentencing error for one of the charges.
The mistake was for the charge of causing death by dangerous driving, for which she was jailed a day and fined $10,000. The Road Traffic Act does not make a provision for a fine for this offence, only jail-time.
So it was back to court after the lunch hour. When Lim re-entered the courtroom, the smile that lit up her face upon the morning's verdict was replaced by an anxious expression.
Her counsel Subhas Anandantold Justice Choo Han Teck that he may have misled the judge with his arguments for a 'high fine' to be imposed on Lim.
Justice Choo set aside the fine, saying: 'In the circumstances, it will not be right to increase the custodial sentence to the detriment of the accused.'
Relief washed over Lim to know that the fine's being set aside was not going to mean a longer jail term for her. The judge made it clear, however, that this was a one-off case and was not to be used as a sentencing precedent.
Mr Anandan later told reporters that Lim will donate to charity the $10,000 she was to pay in the fine.
Editor gets a day's jail, $2k fine
By Selina Lum
Lim Hong Eng (left), the 56-year-old executive editor of Shin Min Daily News, was there to hear the outcome of the appeal against her sentence for knocking down and injuring a motorcyclist and killing the woman riding pillion with him. --ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
IT WAS a day of twists and turns for a newspaper editor in the High Court on Friday.
Lim Hong Eng, the 56-year-old executive editor of Shin Min Daily News, was there to hear the outcome of the appeal against her sentence for knocking down and injuring a motorcyclist and killing the woman riding pillion with him.
The appeal against her conviction was rejected, but the 11/2-year jail term dealt by a lower court was cut to a day's jail and a $12,000 fine on two charges.
Later in the morning, defence lawyers and the prosecutor ran some checks and realised that there had been a sentencing error for one of the charges.
The mistake was for the charge of causing death by dangerous driving, for which she was jailed a day and fined $10,000. The Road Traffic Act does not make a provision for a fine for this offence, only jail-time.
So it was back to court after the lunch hour. When Lim re-entered the courtroom, the smile that lit up her face upon the morning's verdict was replaced by an anxious expression.
Her counsel Subhas Anandantold Justice Choo Han Teck that he may have misled the judge with his arguments for a 'high fine' to be imposed on Lim.
Justice Choo set aside the fine, saying: 'In the circumstances, it will not be right to increase the custodial sentence to the detriment of the accused.'
Relief washed over Lim to know that the fine's being set aside was not going to mean a longer jail term for her. The judge made it clear, however, that this was a one-off case and was not to be used as a sentencing precedent.
Mr Anandan later told reporters that Lim will donate to charity the $10,000 she was to pay in the fine.
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