HIV convict escapes caning
HE WAS spared the rod because his body will be spoiled from being HIV-positive.
Vikkinesparan Krishnan was diagnosed with HIV in May last year.
But when he was sentenced three months later, he was slapped with a 51/2-year jail term and eight strokes of the cane for drug offences.
He was not certified unfit for caning at the time.
For the past year, he served his jail sentence but was never caned.
Yesterday, the 45-year-old bachelor was back in court. He was told he would not be caned as he was certified permanently unfit for caning due to his illness.
Vikkinesparan discovered he was HIV-positive during a routine medical examination at the Queenstown Remand Prison on 4 May last year. His illness was confirmed two months later by a specialist.
While it is not known how serious his condition is, his lawyer, Mr Rajan Supramaniam, claimed that his client's condition has worsened since last year.
Though he is on medication in prison, he feels 'unwell' and is weaker and more lethargic.
After one year in jail, Vikkinesparan has also lost weight, Mr Rajan added. He appeared in court yesterday looking thin and with his head shaven bald.
Ex-girlfriend
Court papers revealed that Vikkinesparan believes that he caught the virus from his ex-girlfriend, a Filipina who worked as a maid in his neighbourhood.
He has since lost contact with her.
Vikkinesparan, who has previous convictions for similar offences, pleaded guilty to selling two straws of heroin to an undercover Central Narcotics Bureau officer in April last year.
He also admitted taking morphine.
On 2 Apr last year, an undercover officer had arranged to meet him at Balestier Road. He sold the officer the drugs for $70.
Mr Rajan said Vikkinesparan, who used to work as an odd-job labourer, lived with his mother in a three-room flat. The elderly woman is blind in one eye and suffers from high blood pressure.
In his mitigation last year, Mr Rajan told the court that Vikkinesparan's mother was in distress and was anxious about his uncertain future.
Vikkinesparan dropped out of school after his PSLE. His father died when he was young. His other siblings are married with their own families.
HE WAS spared the rod because his body will be spoiled from being HIV-positive.
Vikkinesparan Krishnan was diagnosed with HIV in May last year.
But when he was sentenced three months later, he was slapped with a 51/2-year jail term and eight strokes of the cane for drug offences.
He was not certified unfit for caning at the time.
For the past year, he served his jail sentence but was never caned.
Yesterday, the 45-year-old bachelor was back in court. He was told he would not be caned as he was certified permanently unfit for caning due to his illness.
Vikkinesparan discovered he was HIV-positive during a routine medical examination at the Queenstown Remand Prison on 4 May last year. His illness was confirmed two months later by a specialist.
While it is not known how serious his condition is, his lawyer, Mr Rajan Supramaniam, claimed that his client's condition has worsened since last year.
Though he is on medication in prison, he feels 'unwell' and is weaker and more lethargic.
After one year in jail, Vikkinesparan has also lost weight, Mr Rajan added. He appeared in court yesterday looking thin and with his head shaven bald.
Ex-girlfriend
Court papers revealed that Vikkinesparan believes that he caught the virus from his ex-girlfriend, a Filipina who worked as a maid in his neighbourhood.
He has since lost contact with her.
Vikkinesparan, who has previous convictions for similar offences, pleaded guilty to selling two straws of heroin to an undercover Central Narcotics Bureau officer in April last year.
He also admitted taking morphine.
On 2 Apr last year, an undercover officer had arranged to meet him at Balestier Road. He sold the officer the drugs for $70.
Mr Rajan said Vikkinesparan, who used to work as an odd-job labourer, lived with his mother in a three-room flat. The elderly woman is blind in one eye and suffers from high blood pressure.
In his mitigation last year, Mr Rajan told the court that Vikkinesparan's mother was in distress and was anxious about his uncertain future.
Vikkinesparan dropped out of school after his PSLE. His father died when he was young. His other siblings are married with their own families.
