[News] Longer detention for doctor who went AWOL

[sgt4leaf]

I think it's inappropriate that a woman was the military prosecutor (Hee Mee Lin)

 

[BioProEng]

yes.

no excuses for his awol. he did awol, and from his account (no disrupt, mp useless, uni reject) i'll probably do the same if im in his shoes. i'll also expect 6 to 9 months db, 3 weeks was actually too light.

the sentencing was done and completed. 3 weeks, finished last oct. initial sentencing took into account of all the factors (probably that's why so light). is somehow the cp not shiok wan to stir, and probably with orders/support from ppl higher. suddenly throw him back db for 18 months.

it's a mockery of sg/saf justice system.

i also agree, maybe 3weeks is a bit too light... bvut i would also take into consideration, he did appeal, has good performance, but his appeal was rejected for unknown reason......

seems like someone in mindef really out to destroy every opportunity sinkie have... got talents ppl, also force them to be deserter or serve NS and lost their opportunity.... this one come back to receive punishment, already very good, but punishment given out and served, buey song, go appeal to make sure he die..... make sure he will be failure in life..... cause no one should be above their precious FT?

sinkie patent stuff, instead of paying for usage, ask court remove his patent..... etc....

really who need enemy.......

 

[livinginanavatar]

Wah, he is going to be a doctor later leh, will take revenge on us bo?

Sent from an avatar using GAGT

 

[testart]

He was one month away from completing his national service when he left Singapore without permission to pursue his medical studies at the University of Cambridge in Britain.

Wang Yinchu, then 22, left Singapore on Oct 8, 2008 and returned only almost six years later.

When he returned to Singapore on July 2 last year, he gave himself up to Immigration & Checkpoints Authority officers and was later transferred to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Military Police Command.

On Oct 8 last year, he pleaded guilty to one count of being absent without official leave (AWOL) and was sentenced to three weeks’ detention.

But, the chief military prosecutor appealed against this sentence in the military court of appeal on May 29 and urged a stiffer sentence.

Justice Choo Han Teck and four other members of the panel extended Wang’s detention period to 18 months.

In the submissions, military prosecutor Hee Mee Lin told the court that Wang, now 29, was serving with the 41st Battalion of the Singapore Armoured Regiment at Kranji Camp 2.

On Oct 12, 2008, he was due to book back into camp for duties at around 11.59pm, but he failed to do so.

When his superiors noticed his absence, the unit made multiple attempts to contact him on his mobile phone, but the calls went unanswered.

The prosecution added that Wang contacted Mindef via its feedback unit years later to say he wanted to contact his commanding officer as he wanted to surrender himself. Ms Hee said Wang had gone AWOL for five years, eight months and 20 days and pressed for at least 18 months’ detention.

Calling the three-weeks detention "manifestly inadequate", she said it could send a message that full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) would “suffer little consequences” when they go AWOL.

An earlier case was also cited where an NSF from the Singapore Civil Defence Force went AWOL for three years, two months and nine days and was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.

In that case, the High Court also affirmed the sentence and emphasised the need for deterrence, saying: "National Service is about one’s duty to the country, and about placing the nation’s interests above one’s own.

"It would be unfair to all national servicemen who diligently perform their national service at a personal sacrifice to themselves and their families if the appellant’s contention was accepted as a valid mitigating factor."

The prosecution added that "the public interest involved in National Service required that servicemen be prepared to subordinate their personal interests to the interests of the state".

Wang’s lawyer, Mr Anand Nalachandran, urged the court to dismiss the appeal, saying that his client has "repaid the... pound of flesh".

Wang came to Singapore from China in 1996 and started at Primary 2 when he was 10. After that, he went to The Chinese High School where he displayed "outstanding academic ability and demonstrated sportsmanship, integrity... and good sense".

At Hwa Chong Institution, Wang was an outstanding student who excelled in the Biology Olympiad and wushu.

He became a citizen in 2005 when he was 19 and later entered NS.

Mr Anand said references from people such as his former seniors in his unit "all attest to his attitude, character, dedication, diligence and professionalism".

Before he left for England, he had applied to Mindef for a disruption of the remaining one month of service, but this request was denied. Wang then made appeals within the SAF and through his MP, but these were rejected.

NO GUARANTEE

Mr Anand added: "(Wang) asked the university for permission to matriculate later. However, the university advised him to reapply for entry the following year with no guarantee of admission.

"(Wang) was driven by the lifelong ambition to become a doctor and was desperate to retain the rare and coveted opportunity to study medicine at Cambridge."

The lawyer said that his client then made "a desperate decision that few would endorse but many would understand" and left Singapore.

Wang later obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from St Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge.

He also obtained a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London before returning to Singapore.

After completing his earlier sentence in October last year, Wang has volunteered at agencies such as the Alzheimer’s Disease Association and the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, said Mr Anand.

The lawyer also said that Wang was an outstanding soldier "that his superiors and colleagues vouch for even in the present circumstances".

Justice Choo said the panel agreed that Wang has an exemplary record. But they also took into consideration the period of AWOL and the period of service left before sentencing him.

Responding to queries from The New Paper, Mindef said that AWOL is a serious offence: "We will continue to take stern disciplinary action against servicemen who commit AWOL offences."

Those convicted of AWOL can be imprisoned for up to two years.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/si...onger-detention-doctor-who-went-awol-20150616

 

[Beh-Hawk]

sounds like a tiong name

 

[Light Duty]

This is so sad. I hope karma will strike on that chief prosecutor, that bimbotic little ******* b1tch. For his case I think there should be extenuating circumstances because he went through the proper channel but he was rejected, so he had to resort to desertion.

 

[waiken]

coz he's considered a 'nobody' no white horse status hence nobody want him to becum good

 

[Light Duty]

That useless Jiak Liao Bee Tony Tan's son can get 12 years disruption then come back and served as a Defense Scientist, this guy can't even get 1 month.

 

[blimeyy]

At least he has the balls to return. Not like kfc son can defer for so long

 

[waiken]

and tis gahmen prefer FTrashs wif fake degrees

 

[Laneige]

The SAF officers failed this NS man thrice, he went through the proper channel to get deferred.

ya lo n he is turn citizen, served ns
actually applause him for serving ns
hmm is he back because he cant stay outside for long? hes never wanted by the authority?
but sentence really long though he did went thru proper request channel.... 1mth not 1yr... why

 

[aerosmiths]

hope that woman prosecutor can sleep well knowing how she destroyed the life of a doctor that might save lives.

these screwed up lawyers, they might think the extension is a good deterrence to prevent people from AWOL, what they don't know is they have just made the situation worser by ensuring NO ONE will come back to singapore after AWOLing. in this case, NO merit was given at all to the man for returning to face the music and to contribute to the country that gave him this opportunity.

this case is not a miscarriage of justice but in my book, it certainly looks like one. There should be an inquiry into the exact reasons why he was not given the disruption, there should be consideration for the fact he returned when he absolutely need not at all. it is not exactly his birth country after all. the prosecutor being a woman might be biased too, prosecutors for military offences should be men who served before, period.

 

[Angmoh_TuaKi]

so what if he was an outstanding student and soldier. Law is blind to these and applies to all fairly regardlessly.
you break it you will bear the consequences later.

I am just sad he was badly advised when he made that fateful decision.

Law is constructed to service people, there is no such thing as set in stone law. Law have to be adaptable according to the times. Not created to entrap ppl or must blindly follow law. Use some brains will u.

 

[Angmoh_TuaKi]

The prosecutor who appealed for a longer sentence is a CCB, Hee Mee Lin. Hope she get AIDS.

Most of them are the older gens who are rigid and dogmatic. From their actions u can see they are spiritually immature.

I think all the leaders in politics, jurisdiction, and ministry must be replaced asap. They outlived their spiritual usefulness in contrast to civil society.

 

[Angmoh_TuaKi]

hope that woman prosecutor can sleep well knowing how she destroyed the life of a doctor that might save lives.

these screwed up lawyers, they might think the extension is a good deterrence to prevent people from AWOL, what they don't know is they have just made the situation worser by ensuring NO ONE will come back to singapore after AWOLing. in this case, NO merit was given at all to the man for returning to face the music and to contribute to the country that gave him this opportunity.

this case is not a miscarriage of justice but in my book, it certainly looks like one. There should be an inquiry into the exact reasons why he was not given the disruption, there should be consideration for the fact he returned when he absolutely need not at all. it is not exactly his birth country after all. the prosecutor being a woman might be biased too, prosecutors for military offences should be men who served before, period.

They assume by administering harsher punishment will deter other people - this logic is automatic flawed logic based on fallacy.

 

[Angmoh_TuaKi]

I think it's inappropriate that a woman was the military prosecutor (Hee Mee Lin)

This woman? can write in higher chain of command to complain her?

 

[XeonHacker]

This woman? can write in higher chain of command to complain her?

jin satki

 

[NotWhatYouThink]

Most of them are the older gens who are rigid and dogmatic. From their actions u can see they are spiritually immature.

I think all the leaders in politics, jurisdiction, and ministry must be replaced asap. They outlived their spiritual usefulness in contrast to civil society.

and emotionally unstable~~

 

[bbcccc]

he is going to be a very fit doctor after 18 mths

 

[god_of_smallthings]

Why government dont allow people with 1 month left to disrupt for studies. sibei *******.

18 months detention for awol is justified. it cannot and must not be changed.