SINGAPORE: An ex-inmate is seeking
compensation of at least S$100,000 from the government for the
extra strokes of the cane he received while he was in
prison.
Dickson Tan was sentenced in February last year to a total of nine
months' jail and five strokes of cane for four counts of loan-shark
activities.
Tan was given eight strokes of the cane instead of the actual
five.
The government acknowledged the error and expressed regret, but at
issue then was the amount of compensation Tan should
get.
Three rounds of discussions with the Attorney-General's Chambers
failed to produce an agreement.
Tan's family indicated before these mediation talks that they would
settle if an offer of $300,000 was made.
So, Tan has taken the case to court.
Tan's lawyer, Mr Joseph Chen, told 938LIVE that they are writing in
to ask for a court-based mediation, where a High Court Judge will
decide on the issues involving the case.
Additions were also made during a short hearing. The additions
relate to the questions and comments raised during Parliament on
the case sometime back.
Citing Tan's financial difficulties, Mr Chen said his client hopes
this matter will be resolved as soon as possible.
The lawyer said the S$100,000 in compensation asked is based on a
medical report that he will be unemployable for about five
years.
In the report, Mr Chen explained that Tan currently suffers from
post-traumatic stress disorder that can develop into schizophrenia.
If the case goes to trial, they will be asking for punitive
damages.
The extra strokes he received was due to an error made by the court
clerk while transcribing the sentence meted out on to the warrant
of commitment.
The warrant is to notify the Prisons Department of the sentence
that had been meted out to the prisoner. - 938LIVE.
I would want to be compensated when people don't listen and
insist on giving me a red hot ass. Sorry ain't enough. $100K ain't
much with rising inflation and job ain't readily available for an
ex-convict. 3 strokes for $100K, that works out to be $33K a
stroke.
