Rule of law applies to all: Shanmugam
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Rule of law applies to all, regardless of nationality & status: Shanmugam
By Imelda Saad | Posted: 24 October 2010 1757 hrsSINGAPORE : Singapore Law Minister K Shanmugam has said that the country applies the rule of law to anyone, regardless of the nationality of the person involved, his background or status.
He was commenting on the case involving American citizen, Kamari Kenyada Charlton, who has been charged with overstaying in Singapore and cheating.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a community event on Sunday, Mr Shanmugam said it is "very unfortunate" that some comments have been made prematurely about Charlton being subject to discrimination.
He pointed out that Singapore authorities had proceeded according to the law.
Charlton's former lawyer M Ravi had alleged that Charlton had been subject to discriminatory treatment.
Charlton was picked up when he was attempting to leave Singapore.
He had overstayed and at the same time he was on an Interpol list.
His name was on the list based on complaints that had been made against him by authorities outside of Singapore.
It is alleged that Charlton had cheated elderly Australians through a phone scam operation.
If convicted for overstaying, he faces a mandatory three strokes of the cane.
The case has raised some interest in the American media, as Charlton could be the first American to be caned in Singapore after the Michael Fay case in 1994.
Charlton's case will be heard again on October 29.
Mr Shanmugam, who is also Second Home Affairs Minister, said: "Anyone who looks at the facts will see this is an investigative process.
"Of course, this is from the police perspective and the police have made clear that investigations are still proceeding, and what charges will be proceeded with in court and whether there are enough facts to justify any particular charge, all these are matters which are not crystallised yet, so it is really premature to jump to conclusions at this stage.
"We should let the process take its course and even if the charges are proceeded with, ultimately it is up to the courts to decide". - CNA/ms -
Looks like the American guy would be caned, after all.
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the legal way to uphold our sovereignty....whatever nationality or creed...
in my opinion, that is right...
but he should review the women's charter...which my view is that it is lopsided against his own gender
