C
Chun Li
Guest
May 16, 2011
Repeat offender with fetish disorder given probation
By Elena Chong
Low Ji Qiang was given 36 months supervised probation for stealing wallets from female shoppers between May and November last year. -- PHOTO: POLICE
A MAN who was diagnosed to be suffering from fetishism was spared a jail term and given 36 months' supervised probation on Monday for theft.
Low Ji Qiang, 47, had admitted to four counts of stealing wallets from women shoppers between May and November last year at supermarkets and a department store. Six other charges including one of fraudulently having ez-Link cards were taken into consideration.
The court heard that he had committed the present set of offences shortly after his release from a 10-year preventive detention for similar offences. Before 2000, he had been convicted of theft in 1985, 1993 and 1996.
His lawyer Josephus Tan had told the court in mitigation that Low's thefts were the result of his inability to cope with his mental disorder. The psychiatrist had diagnosed him as suffering from fetishism, which are recurrent, intense and sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges and behaviours involving the use of a non-living object.
Counsel said his client had shown a strong propensity for rehabilitation. He had also got a job at his elder sister's travel agency and doing charitable work on weekends.
Under the probation order, Low, an economics graduate from an Australian university, will reside at a crisis centre for men and attend a treatment programme. His case will be reviewed in six months. He was also ordered to compensate $5,058 to the victims by 20 monthly instalments.
