by Khushwant Singh
OFFENDERS could be jailed up to five years for trying to bribe a
police officer but Ng Bee Teng, 70, was only fined $4,000 on
Tuesday because of his medical condition.
District Judge Hamidah Ibrahim noted Ng's poor health when
passing sentence.
Defence counsel Troy Yeo told the court that a medical report
from the National Heart Centre confirmed the seriousness of his
client's medical condition and the necessity of constant medication
to prevent a relapse or even death. In addition to heart disease,
Ng suffers from diabetes.
At about 12.30pm on July 5, 2010, his car had been involved in
an accident. While parking at a carpark in Bukit Panjang, he had
inadvertently stepped on the accelerator instead of the brakes. The
vehicle mounted the kerb and damaged a road bollard. A tyre was
also punctured.
Ng then left the car and went to do his errands. Upon his
return, he saw Corporal Roslan Abdul Rasip making arrangements to
tow the vehicle. Pleading to the officer not to issue a summons, he
placed three $10 notes on the seat on the corporal's Traffic Police
motorcycle.
The court heard that Ng had already been fined $600 for careless
driving and causing the accident. Asking the court to consider a
one-day jail term coupled with a fine, Deputy Public Prosecutor
Navin S. Thevar said there were valid grounds for the court to
exercise judicial mercy.
