Read this piece of news first before reading what I have to say.
Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iyFXWG71XVFE3JkUGIA2XvZqsf-gD9GIB0D00?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
SINGAPORE — Singapore sentenced a Swiss man to three strokes of a cane and five months in prison Friday for spray-painting graffiti on a subway car, reinforcing the city-state's reputation for severely punishing minor crimes.
Oliver Fricker, 32, pleaded guilty earlier in the day to one count each of vandalism and trespassing for breaking into a train depot with an accomplice and drawing graffiti on two subway carriages on May 16.
Fricker's lawyer, Derek Kang, said his client would appeal the punishment.
"He feels the sentence is too high, and so do I," Kang told reporters.
Fricker, who had been free on bail of 100,000 Singapore dollars ($72,000), was immediately taken into custody by court police. The information technology consultant didn't speak to the media. He was silent and motionless throughout the hearing, but sighed heavily as he was led away.
"The offenses were planned and carefully executed," said Senior District Judge See Kee Oon. "These were not impulsive displays of youthful bravado."
Vandalism in Singapore carries a mandatory three to eight strokes of a cane and a fine of up to SG$2,000 Singapore dollars ($1,437) or up to three years in jail.
Singapore boasts one of the lowest violent crime rates and highest standards of living in the world, but human rights groups often criticize the government for excessive punishments such as hanging drug couriers. Singapore also reiterated a ban on the sale of chewing gum this year and announced a crackdown on littering last month.
Singapore caned American teenager Michael Fay for vandalism in 1994 — ignoring pleas for leniency by then-President Bill Clinton — in a case that drew international attention to the country's harsh punishments.
Fay, who was 18 at the time, was sentenced to six cane strokes and four months in jail.
The Swiss Embassy in Singapore is in contact with Fricker's family, said spokeswoman Sandra Chawla-Gantenbein.
"All Swiss nationals living in Singapore must expect to comply with the law," Chawla-Gantenbein said after the sentencing. "Corporal punishment is not part of the Swiss legal system."
Prosecutors said Fricker, who has worked in Singapore since 2008, committed the crimes with Lloyd Dane Alexander, a British national based in Hong Kong. Police issued an arrest warrant for Alexander, 29, earlier this month, and prosecutors said he fled last month to Hong Kong.
Fricker and Alexander cut through a security fence and caused about SG$11,000 ($7,900) of damage by painting "McKoy Banos" on a train car, prosecutors said. Kang said Fricker agreed to pay all damages.
The "McKoy Banos" slogan has appeared on graffiti found throughout the world. Fricker's lawyer said his client had copied the name after seeing it elsewhere.
Fricker and Alexander first met in Australia in 1997 and during his time in Singapore, Fricker spray-painted at one of Singapore's government-sanctioned graffiti walls, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors didn't specify how Fricker was identified, saying only their evidence came from police investigations.
Kang argued during the sentencing hearing that Fricker was by persuaded by Alexander to commit the crimes "while inebriated" after consuming "several beers."
"It was committed for fun, not malice," Kang said. "It was purely graphic art."
Prosecutors pointed out Fricker admitted to bringing the wire cutter used to breach the fence and joined Alexander in scouting the location earlier in the day.
Fricker and Alexander were involved in "graffiti tourism" as part of a group of international underground artists who travel the world seeking new places to tag, said prosecutor Sharon Lim.
"The defendant acted brazenly to add Singapore to his trophies," Lim said. "This is not a mere prank."
Singapore's subway operator, SMRT Corp., didn't report the incident to police for two days because staff thought the brightly colored graffiti was an advertisement.
DISCLAIMER: The following text is based purely on personal opinion and not meant to criticise any involved party in the case. Its content may also be nonsensical, but you have no right to criticise the writer for disagreeing with her.
What Singapore should have done to Fricker:
1. Given him the "Most Talented Expatriate of the Year" award. Come on people, did you see the graffiti he spray-painted on the MRT? It was soooooooo flawless and magnificent that SMRT staff thought it was an advertisement SMRT put up on its cabins to earn money. If I'm not wrong, the youth who uploaded that video of the graffiti onto youtube thought it was a flamboyant advertisement too. In my opinion, he beautified that MRT. THE GRAFFITI WAS NICE AND NO ONE CAN DENY THAT.
2. Thanked him profusely for letting us realise how "up to standard" SMRT's security is. Fortunately, Fricker and that Briton guy broke into SMRT grounds to spray-paint that MRT train instead of doing stuff like meddling with the train engine/wheels. Imagine the disastrous consequences should they have done the latter! ACCIDENTS WOULD HAPPEN! Damn it, I could have died because I take the MRT everyday and I'm sure many others in Singapore do so as well! SMRT should stop complaining about their monetary losses due to removal of the graffiti and start improving security. They didn't have to remove the graffiti anyway, it was nice. Now the MRT trains are ugly again.
3. Helped him set up an art school where he can teach local youths and all interested to spray-paint as well as him. Singapore welcomes foreign talent, right? Singaporeans would become more talented and gain international recognition, bringing glory and fame to this little red dot! YES! Or they could have simply hired him to decorate all our MRT trains. Oh, didn't some people say that Lucky Plaza is old and ugly? They can get him to spray-paint its walls so that it will become more modern and cool, attracting more customers. Hurrah to a more prosperous economy! Wasn't ION's wall designed by a graffiti artist? No?
How Singapore should have punished Fricker if they really had to:
1. Made him spray-paint all our MRT trains since he likes doing it so much. It'll be mutually beneficial! We get beautiful trains, he gets to do what he likes.
2. I heard some giggly girls discussing about how hot Fricker is. Really? I don't know, all the photos of him I've come across are of low quality and blurry. Plus, he keeps covering his face when the photographers are around. Anyway, if he really has movie-star looks, we could make him star in local dramas and movies, boosting Singapore's media! He could act as a talented graffiti artist, yup, I bet he'd ace in that sorta role. Then let Jeanette Aw star opposite him as his lover: The little Nyona meets ang moh.
Now for some serious talk.
5 months and 3 slashes of the cane is simply too harsh. Seriously. But I can understand. Singapore is obviously taking measures to deter other people from vandalising property, sending all potential vandals a severe warning. Poor Fricker. Is he being made a scapegoat?
In my opinion, the 5 months is pretty severe but still acceptable. Fricker did do wrong. I think he should have done some reading up of Michael Fay's incident. We don't spare ang mohs caning, even if their country doesn't practise it or even intervenes. But the caning?! It makes no sense to cane someone for vandalism. Maybe if they destroyed stuff, but he didn't really cause much destruction. *Shrugs*
Anyway, a friend told me that a family friend visited America more than 10 years ago and chatted with an American taxi driver while touring the area. Upon learning that the family friend was from Singapore, the taxi driver said: "Good thing you caned Michael Fay."
Hmm...
Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iyFXWG71XVFE3JkUGIA2XvZqsf-gD9GIB0D00?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
SINGAPORE — Singapore sentenced a Swiss man to three strokes of a cane and five months in prison Friday for spray-painting graffiti on a subway car, reinforcing the city-state's reputation for severely punishing minor crimes.
Oliver Fricker, 32, pleaded guilty earlier in the day to one count each of vandalism and trespassing for breaking into a train depot with an accomplice and drawing graffiti on two subway carriages on May 16.
Fricker's lawyer, Derek Kang, said his client would appeal the punishment.
"He feels the sentence is too high, and so do I," Kang told reporters.
Fricker, who had been free on bail of 100,000 Singapore dollars ($72,000), was immediately taken into custody by court police. The information technology consultant didn't speak to the media. He was silent and motionless throughout the hearing, but sighed heavily as he was led away.
"The offenses were planned and carefully executed," said Senior District Judge See Kee Oon. "These were not impulsive displays of youthful bravado."
Vandalism in Singapore carries a mandatory three to eight strokes of a cane and a fine of up to SG$2,000 Singapore dollars ($1,437) or up to three years in jail.
Singapore boasts one of the lowest violent crime rates and highest standards of living in the world, but human rights groups often criticize the government for excessive punishments such as hanging drug couriers. Singapore also reiterated a ban on the sale of chewing gum this year and announced a crackdown on littering last month.
Singapore caned American teenager Michael Fay for vandalism in 1994 — ignoring pleas for leniency by then-President Bill Clinton — in a case that drew international attention to the country's harsh punishments.
Fay, who was 18 at the time, was sentenced to six cane strokes and four months in jail.
The Swiss Embassy in Singapore is in contact with Fricker's family, said spokeswoman Sandra Chawla-Gantenbein.
"All Swiss nationals living in Singapore must expect to comply with the law," Chawla-Gantenbein said after the sentencing. "Corporal punishment is not part of the Swiss legal system."
Prosecutors said Fricker, who has worked in Singapore since 2008, committed the crimes with Lloyd Dane Alexander, a British national based in Hong Kong. Police issued an arrest warrant for Alexander, 29, earlier this month, and prosecutors said he fled last month to Hong Kong.
Fricker and Alexander cut through a security fence and caused about SG$11,000 ($7,900) of damage by painting "McKoy Banos" on a train car, prosecutors said. Kang said Fricker agreed to pay all damages.
The "McKoy Banos" slogan has appeared on graffiti found throughout the world. Fricker's lawyer said his client had copied the name after seeing it elsewhere.
Fricker and Alexander first met in Australia in 1997 and during his time in Singapore, Fricker spray-painted at one of Singapore's government-sanctioned graffiti walls, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors didn't specify how Fricker was identified, saying only their evidence came from police investigations.
Kang argued during the sentencing hearing that Fricker was by persuaded by Alexander to commit the crimes "while inebriated" after consuming "several beers."
"It was committed for fun, not malice," Kang said. "It was purely graphic art."
Prosecutors pointed out Fricker admitted to bringing the wire cutter used to breach the fence and joined Alexander in scouting the location earlier in the day.
Fricker and Alexander were involved in "graffiti tourism" as part of a group of international underground artists who travel the world seeking new places to tag, said prosecutor Sharon Lim.
"The defendant acted brazenly to add Singapore to his trophies," Lim said. "This is not a mere prank."
Singapore's subway operator, SMRT Corp., didn't report the incident to police for two days because staff thought the brightly colored graffiti was an advertisement.
DISCLAIMER: The following text is based purely on personal opinion and not meant to criticise any involved party in the case. Its content may also be nonsensical, but you have no right to criticise the writer for disagreeing with her.
What Singapore should have done to Fricker:
1. Given him the "Most Talented Expatriate of the Year" award. Come on people, did you see the graffiti he spray-painted on the MRT? It was soooooooo flawless and magnificent that SMRT staff thought it was an advertisement SMRT put up on its cabins to earn money. If I'm not wrong, the youth who uploaded that video of the graffiti onto youtube thought it was a flamboyant advertisement too. In my opinion, he beautified that MRT. THE GRAFFITI WAS NICE AND NO ONE CAN DENY THAT.
2. Thanked him profusely for letting us realise how "up to standard" SMRT's security is. Fortunately, Fricker and that Briton guy broke into SMRT grounds to spray-paint that MRT train instead of doing stuff like meddling with the train engine/wheels. Imagine the disastrous consequences should they have done the latter! ACCIDENTS WOULD HAPPEN! Damn it, I could have died because I take the MRT everyday and I'm sure many others in Singapore do so as well! SMRT should stop complaining about their monetary losses due to removal of the graffiti and start improving security. They didn't have to remove the graffiti anyway, it was nice. Now the MRT trains are ugly again.
3. Helped him set up an art school where he can teach local youths and all interested to spray-paint as well as him. Singapore welcomes foreign talent, right? Singaporeans would become more talented and gain international recognition, bringing glory and fame to this little red dot! YES! Or they could have simply hired him to decorate all our MRT trains. Oh, didn't some people say that Lucky Plaza is old and ugly? They can get him to spray-paint its walls so that it will become more modern and cool, attracting more customers. Hurrah to a more prosperous economy! Wasn't ION's wall designed by a graffiti artist? No?
How Singapore should have punished Fricker if they really had to:
1. Made him spray-paint all our MRT trains since he likes doing it so much. It'll be mutually beneficial! We get beautiful trains, he gets to do what he likes.
2. I heard some giggly girls discussing about how hot Fricker is. Really? I don't know, all the photos of him I've come across are of low quality and blurry. Plus, he keeps covering his face when the photographers are around. Anyway, if he really has movie-star looks, we could make him star in local dramas and movies, boosting Singapore's media! He could act as a talented graffiti artist, yup, I bet he'd ace in that sorta role. Then let Jeanette Aw star opposite him as his lover: The little Nyona meets ang moh.
Now for some serious talk.
5 months and 3 slashes of the cane is simply too harsh. Seriously. But I can understand. Singapore is obviously taking measures to deter other people from vandalising property, sending all potential vandals a severe warning. Poor Fricker. Is he being made a scapegoat?
In my opinion, the 5 months is pretty severe but still acceptable. Fricker did do wrong. I think he should have done some reading up of Michael Fay's incident. We don't spare ang mohs caning, even if their country doesn't practise it or even intervenes. But the caning?! It makes no sense to cane someone for vandalism. Maybe if they destroyed stuff, but he didn't really cause much destruction. *Shrugs*
Anyway, a friend told me that a family friend visited America more than 10 years ago and chatted with an American taxi driver while touring the area. Upon learning that the family friend was from Singapore, the taxi driver said: "Good thing you caned Michael Fay."
Hmm...
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