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.
article did not mention how the judge ascertained the money was used to help stray cats....hmm....
As much as we'd like to sympathise and applaud his love for other creatures..
Theft is still theft..
anytime better and more noble than the pastors of those megachurches lah.........
that's mega-theft on a biblical proportion........