From TODAY
Online:
Actor's detention upheld
Leong Wee Keat
[email protected]
TELEVISION viewers know him as Phua Chu Kang's nephew, Aloy. But
actor Marcus Ng Yi Loong was at the heart of a real-life courtroom
drama yesterday.
A full-time National Serviceman, Ng was appealing against a
subordinate military court ruling, after he had been convicted on
two charges of insubordinate behaviour and conduct to the prejudice
of good discipline.
On Feb 28 last year, Ng's superior at Nee Soon Camp's SAF Medical
Training Institute called Ng and another serviceman into a room to
address them about an earlier incident.
After reprimanding the other serviceman, Second Warrant Officer
Saraswathi told Ng, who had asked, "Why me?", not to question her
orders.
Ng became angry and accused 2WO Saraswathi of picking on him.
Both raised their voices.
Afterwards, Ng confronted her outside the room and their two-minute
exchange drew the attention of Master Warrant Officer Ger Ah
Kee.
Seeking to defuse the situation, MWO Ger put his hand on Ng's
shoulder.
Ng rudely shrugged MWO Ger's hand off by moving his shoulder
aggressively.
Later, Ng was sentenced to seven days' detention on each of the two
charges, with the sentences to run concurrently.
The 22-year-old appealed to the Military Court of Appeal, making
the case that the Court Martial judge, in convicting him, had erred
in law and in fact.
Ng's lawyer Wendell Wong said there were conflicting accounts from
eyewitnesses, and called the sentence "manifestly excessive" and
"crushing for a young serviceman", while citing other cases where
servicemen were given fines, a reprimand or letter of warning for
seemingly more serious offences.
In response, Singapore Armed Forces prosecutor Luke Tan argued that
the Court Martial's finding of guilt was based "on sound and
established legal principles".
The five-member panel of the Military Court of Appeal, chaired by
High Court Judge Justice Choo Han Teck, agreed.
They dismissed Ng's appeal against his conviction and sentence on
the charge of insubordination, even as they reduced Ng's sentence
on the second charge to a reprimand.
This means Ng still has to serve seven days' detention.
This was not Ng's first brush with military law. Last October, he
was convicted and fined $1,000 for two other offences of
disobedience and non-compliance. Lawyers were also hired for him at
the time.
Ng's mother, Mdm Florence Tan, told reporters she has spent $80,000
on legal fees.
She gave her son a hug before he was led away to begin his
detention.
