By Khushwant Singh
A CAT-LOVER who stole seven bags of second-hand clothes from the
Salvation Army's headquarters in Bishan Street 22 was fined $2,000
on Tuesday.
Neo Chuan Seng, 54, a newspaper vendor had committed the offence
in January last year. He pleaded guilty and told investigators that
he had hoped to sell the clothes and use the proceeds to take care
of stray and injured cats.
Before passing sentence, District Judge Kessler Soh noted that
Neo was doing a good deed but had also broken the law. 'Since you
committed theft, you must now pay the punishment,' said the
judge.
The court heard police were called by a resident living opposite
the Salvation Army's headquarters who saw Neo drive up in his van
and take some items from the donation corner. There were English
and Mandarin signs there that warned that donated items were the
property of the Salvation Army and stealing them was an offence
punishable by law.
Neo was arrested later that day and the stolen clothes were
recovered from his van. These were estimated to be worth $150 by a
Salvation Army's executive.
Arguing that a fine was an appropriate punishment in this case,
defence counsel M. Mahendran said that Neo was not stealing for
himself but to get extra money to pay the costs of helping injured
and stray cats. The divorcee lives with his mother, 80, and a
paralysed 82-year-old father, both of whom he supports on his
monthly income of $700.
