What actually happened ......
(Straits Times Interactive - 21 Feb 2004)
Woman's beau was found drunk at
interchange
I REFER to Ms Teo Zui Wen's letter, 'Don't leave home without
identification papers' (ST, Feb 1
.
Ms Teo claimed that her boyfriend was stopped by police in the
street.
When he was found without any identification papers, he was taken
to the police station and kept there overnight.
She further alleged that police seized her boyfriend's mobile phone
and that he was not allowed to get anyone to take his passport to
the station. This is inaccurate.
On Feb 12 about 12.45am, police were alerted by a member of the
public to a drunk man at the Toa Payoh Bus Interchange.
When our officers arrived, they found Ms Teo's boyfriend lying on
the floor. He smelt very strongly of alcohol.
He was incoherent, unable to stand and care for himself. He was
also not carrying any identification papers.
Our officers then took him back to the Tanglin Police Division HQ
to ascertain his identity and allow him to sober up in a safe
environment.
In accordance with our operating procedure, all the personal
belongings of the detained man, including his mobile phone, were
kept in a locker at the holding bay where he was held.
In the course of the night, the drunk man vomited and our officers
had to help him clean up.
He became sober only about 7am. He then contacted his friend on his
mobile phone. The friend subsequently arrived at the police station
with his passport. After verifying his particulars, police released
him unconditionally.
We thank the public-spirited person for alerting police to the
incident.
PHILLIP MAH
Assistant Director (Media Relations)
Singapore Police Force
