AWOL NSman Teo's accomplice gets 6.5 years' jail, 6 strokes of cane

[melvin]

By Wong Mun Wai, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 25 February 2008 2150 hrs

SINGAPORE: Ong Boon Jun and National Serviceman Dave Teo Ming were good friends. When Teo was caught with a rifle near Orchard Road last year, it was learnt he had earlier been with Ong who did not report the matter to the police.

For being an accomplice in the incident, Ong was sentenced to 6.5 years' jail and six strokes of the cane on Monday.

Teo had gone absent without leave from Mandai Hill Camp on September 2 last year when he took the SAR-21 and five rounds of ammunition.

With the rifle in a bag, Teo checked into a hotel in Geylang the next day.

Ong was with Teo in the hotel room before Teo was caught in a toilet at Orchard Cineleisure later that night.

Ong's lawyer, Amolat Singh, said his client realised he should have left the hotel room when he saw that Teo had the rifle.

Mr Amolat Singh said: "He was looking forward to the minimum mandatory sentence of five years. As you have heard, he has been sentenced to six-and-a-half-years. It's quite close to the maximum of seven years.

"We will visit him in prison to take his instructions. As you know, we act on instructions. If he instructs to appeal, then we will file the necessary papers to appeal."

Ong's adopted parents and a cousin were also in court. Ong's mother was visibly shaken, wiping her eyes a few times outside the courtroom.

The judge said he had considered the facts and implications of the case. He said it was incumbent on Ong to report the accused, Dave Teo, to the police so that no harm would come to anyone.

More so, the judge said, because Teo had told Ong he was going to commit armed robbery.

Teo's next pre-trial conference is on 6 March. For Ong, his sentence is backdated to the start of his remand last September. - CNA/ir

 

[night86mare]

wa, kena drag down into water

personally, i think it is a little too harsh though.. and why is there caning?

 

[calebk]

wa, kena drag down into water

personally, i think it is a little too harsh though.. and why is there caning?

Yeah it's really a case of wrong place, wrong time.

Eh why you change your avatar. I got a shock. :bsmilie:

 

[waileong]

That is stretching the definition of "accomplice". Accessory might be a better term.

 

[satay16]

hopes he appeals successfully.

and what's wrong with Dave's mind? armed robbery? in singapore? really because of breakup?

 

[joe]

Serve him right,go and steal SAF rifle.After serving the 6yrs in prision than continuos the 2yrs of national service.That 6yrs in prison is not counted.Wasted the 6yrs for nothing.

 

[LazerLordz]

Serve him right,go and steal SAF rifle.After serving the 6yrs in prision than continuos the 2yrs of national service.That 6yrs in prison is not counted.Wasted the 6yrs for nothing.

Nope, he won't have to continue his NS for two more years, as he was about to ORD a few days before he committed his crime.

 

[night86mare]

Yeah it's really a case of wrong place, wrong time.

Eh why you change your avatar. I got a shock. :bsmilie:

the result of extreme boredom and late nights watching the entire american pie series for the first time

rubbish movie, but quite hilarious at times

 

[josho]

Sway gao Hong gan. 6 year in prison. Hope he study in there to keep himselve upgrade. This is a good time for him since there's no way back. Hope the appeal for him went smooth if he wanted it.

Peace