Progress in mediation over payout
for prisoner who was caned extra strokesBy
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 13 July 2007 1819
hrs
SINGAPORE: The case surrounding a prisoner who had been wrongfully
given three extra strokes of the cane came up for mediation at the
Singapore Mediation Centre on Friday.
20-year-old Dickson Tan Yong Wen, who is still in prison, was
convicted for abetting an unlicensed moneylender to harass a
debtor.
He was given eight strokes of the cane instead of the prescribed
five.
Lawyers from both sides said the mediation process was making
progress.
Mr Joseph Chen, the Counsel for Tan, told reporters that the
government was amenable to a fair settlement.
Mr Chen, who accompanied Tan's mother to the hearing at the Supreme
Court building on Friday, also said that he was happy with the
session.
Channel NewsAsia understands that a settlement amount being looked
at is in the range of $300,000.
The two mediators on their part have encouraged both parties to
come to a settlement.
The government is represented by Mr Leong Kwang Ian from the
Attorney General's Chambers.
The hearing has been adjourned to a later date.
In earlier negotiations, both the Law and Home Affairs Ministries
said Tan's family had initially asked for $150,000 in compensation
but later raised it to $3 million to include punitive
damages.
This could not be accepted by the government.
The victim had reportedly said he would donate $2.7m to charity. -
CNA/ir