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Jail term replaced by $5,000 fine for fall guy
By Khushwant Singh
Lim Ah Hwa, 40, a Malaysian and a permanent resident in Singapore, had appealed against the sentence imposed by a district court last October for perverting the course of justice. She had lied to take the rap for a speeding offence committed by her friend in 2008. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
A HAIR salon owner cried tears of joy on Wednesday when the High Court spared her a one-month jail term and fined her $5,000 instead. Lim Ah Hwa, 40, a Malaysian and a permanent resident in Singapore, had appealed against the sentence imposed by a district court last October for perverting the course of justice. She had lied to take the rap for a speeding offence committed by her friend in 2008.
Justice Chao Hick Tin said that while the court agreed with the prosecution's stance that such offences undermined the administration of justice and went against public interest, an exception could be made. Said the judge: 'This is her first brush with the law and considering her family circumstances, the court is willing to exercise an exceptional act of compassion and set aside the imprisonment term and substitute it with a fine.'
In the public gallery, her three daughters, aged 10, 15 and 17, looked relieved and gripped each other's hands.
Her troubles with the law started after her friend Charlie Lim Chau Lee, a 51-year-old sales executive, had been ticketed for speeding on Lornie Road in August 2008. At first he had offered another friend $100 to take the rap but was rejected. He then approached her. She agreed and even declined to accept money as she had feelings for him, although he was married with two children.
He was jailed for six months and fined $1,000 last September.
Charlie Lim Chau Lee was jailed six months for getting someone to take the rap
Evangeline Tay was fined $2,000 for getting someone to take the rap
By Khushwant Singh
Lim Ah Hwa, 40, a Malaysian and a permanent resident in Singapore, had appealed against the sentence imposed by a district court last October for perverting the course of justice. She had lied to take the rap for a speeding offence committed by her friend in 2008. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
A HAIR salon owner cried tears of joy on Wednesday when the High Court spared her a one-month jail term and fined her $5,000 instead. Lim Ah Hwa, 40, a Malaysian and a permanent resident in Singapore, had appealed against the sentence imposed by a district court last October for perverting the course of justice. She had lied to take the rap for a speeding offence committed by her friend in 2008.
Justice Chao Hick Tin said that while the court agreed with the prosecution's stance that such offences undermined the administration of justice and went against public interest, an exception could be made. Said the judge: 'This is her first brush with the law and considering her family circumstances, the court is willing to exercise an exceptional act of compassion and set aside the imprisonment term and substitute it with a fine.'
In the public gallery, her three daughters, aged 10, 15 and 17, looked relieved and gripped each other's hands.
Her troubles with the law started after her friend Charlie Lim Chau Lee, a 51-year-old sales executive, had been ticketed for speeding on Lornie Road in August 2008. At first he had offered another friend $100 to take the rap but was rejected. He then approached her. She agreed and even declined to accept money as she had feelings for him, although he was married with two children.
He was jailed for six months and fined $1,000 last September.
Charlie Lim Chau Lee was jailed six months for getting someone to take the rap
Evangeline Tay was fined $2,000 for getting someone to take the rap
Fined $2,000 for hiring fall guy for traffic offence
http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20110208/taysuuann-st.jpg
By Khushwant Singh
Evangeline Tay Sun Ann, 22, was fined $2,000 by the district court for perverting the course of justice. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
SHE got a police friend to rope in a woman to take the rap for beating a red light for the price of $1,000. [color=_______]For perverting the course of justice in 2008, Evangeline Tay Sun Ann, 22, was fined $2,000 on Feb 8[/color].
Through lawyer Lim Kia Tong, Tay, who is now studying for a business degree at the Singapore Institute of Management, said she intends to appeal against the fine.
Her two accomplices were both jailed. Former deputy superintendent of police Kelvin Choo Yew Beng, 40, was sentenced to six months in jail in April last year for getting Leung Man Kwan to take the rap for Tay. For her role, Leung, 35, a property agent, was jailed three months in 2009.
In Tay's case, District Judge Jill Tan said that psychiatric reports indicated that there was a 'causal link' between Tay's depression and the commission of the offence. As she had kept on the right side of the law since 2008 and there was little chance of her repeating the offence, the judge found that it was not necessary to impose probation or a jail term.
Tay had pleaded guilty late last year. Then, the court heard that she ran a red light at the junction of Lornie Road and Sime Road in January 2008. She had taken a Bulgarian business manager's car out for a spin without his consent while he was abroad. Tay, who had been staying in the Bulgarian's house, knew she had been caught as she saw the camera flash go off.
Worried because she was driving without a licence and without the permission of the car's owner, she turned to Choo for help. Tay, who is the last to be dealt with, has also been fined a total of $1,900 for driving the car without a licence, without insurance and for beating the red light.
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