April 27, 2007
JEALOUSY and alcohol is the heady mix that usually spells trouble.
Mr Samuel Chow, 51, a religious counsellor, will attest to
that.
Involved in bar fights when he was younger, Mr Chow was convicted
of armed robbery in 1985 and sentenced to 10 years' jail.
Now reformed and a successful businessman who runs his own hardware
and paint business, he said some of the things he did were 'really
stupid'.
Recalling his brush with trouble, Mr Chow said: 'We went to a
nightspot in a gang and met the cabaret girls there.
'Then we got familiar with them as we went there a few more
times.
'But when we went one night, we found the girls hanging out with
another gang.
'We got jealous and fought with the gang.'
Married with two grown-up children, Mr Chow - who goes to Changi
Prison to talk to inmates every month - said it would take less
than jealousy to start a fight sometimes.
It could be someone staring at them or bumping into them, and then
all hell would break loose.
And when you are drunk, it makes things worse, he said.
It also does not help that young people tend to be hot-headed, he
added. And they become bolder in a group.
He said: 'They want to show off and show how strong they are.
'And the bigger group will bully the smaller group.'
From his experience in being involved in gangs, he advised youths
to stay away from groups that are alcohol drinkers.
'Some of these places (nightspots) are not suitable for
youngsters.'