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Arrested for Shoplifting

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Arrested for Shoplifting

Post by Guest » Mon, 01 Aug 2005 11:33 am

My nephew was arrested for shop-lifting last weekend and released on station bail and is to report to the station again in two weeks. He is twenty. He is innocent and it was a misunderstanding. However, to worsen matters, it was caught on tape.


What is the possibility of the case being taken to court? If so, why was he released on station bail and not court bail?

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cyber_m0nkey
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Post by cyber_m0nkey » Mon, 01 Aug 2005 11:39 am

If it was caught on video tape then what's the misunderstanding?

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Post by Guest » Mon, 01 Aug 2005 11:57 am

Why don't you engage a lawyer? He'll be able to offer you more professional advice than people in this forum.

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elizabeth
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Post by elizabeth » Mon, 01 Aug 2005 12:04 pm

May be the best way is to check with a lawyer for such case.. Go to chinatown point.. Almost the whole building is a law frim ..

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Post by Alfalfa » Mon, 01 Aug 2005 12:05 pm

if it is a station bail..it all depends if the shop wants to press charges against him. I believe if he is still of school going age and stuff and this is his first offence chances are they will let him go with a warning.

Talk to them nicely and all... they might just let him go. But off course if this happens again he will be in deep trouble then..

All the best...and good luck talking to the officers.
We'll get along fine as soon as you realize I'm Good.

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Post by sved » Mon, 01 Aug 2005 2:29 pm

First you have to be sure that he is innocent.
Even he is a very good boy, and has never done things like that before... Try to check.
Taking his side when he is guilty is the worst thing to do...
Forgive my english, still learning ...

Guest

Post by Guest » Mon, 01 Aug 2005 6:04 pm

It may well be on video, that he put something in his pocket, but that doesn't prove he stole anything. He is only guilty of the crime, if he walked out of the doorway, without paying.

Apologies for forgetting to pay do not count. It is very common for youngsters in that age group to go around nicking stuff, happens all over the world, they get their kicks out of it, kind of a rush. Take it easy on him, but warn him he deserves all he gets, he knows the difference between stealing and not stealing. Cockieness will just make matters worse, and believe me, the authorities do have experience in these matters. He could well be caned.

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Post by Wham » Mon, 01 Aug 2005 11:06 pm

Agree entirely with previous reply to the effect that IF he was guilty BUT you help him in denying it - you/he will end up in big trouble here in sing - especially given the video tape thing. If you read the newspapers you will see a pattern whereby person xyz is convicted of a crime, they are sentenced, they then appeal, ...and lose - and the original sentence is then INCREASED. In the west we are taught to fight & deny to the last minute (and the system for better or worse rewards this behavior) - whereas here there is an enormous effort to SUGGEST that the guilty ADMIT AND APOLOGIZE - whereby they get off with a well deserved slap on the wrist - BUT - if they FIGHT/DENY/APPEAL and are found guilty - the penalty is basically multiplied as a deterrant. GET IT?

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Post by Guest » Tue, 02 Aug 2005 11:27 am

He deserves the punishment meted out if he's guilty. No.. I'm not in denial but I'm certain he's innocent.

Here's a bright kid who saved $800 to buy a camera. Resorting to lifting a $3 item doesn't cut it. He paid for all the items on the day. Unfortunately, he was carrying a load of stuff devoid a basket and the item slipped into his bag. That's the truth but sometimes the truth seems surreal to be believable.

However, we're living a nightmare that too dramatic to be true.

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Post by dot dot dot » Tue, 02 Aug 2005 11:40 am

With that information given, I'd strongly suggest you take a good lawyer. As several others here put it, the law in Singapore is strict and those who offend it, will be punished accordingly.

But a good lawyer and an understanding judge (if it gets to court) will surely put all aspects into consideration, as the law here might be strict, but certainly not unjust.

And although an interesting topic for debate, given the details of this very case, only a lawyer can help you on this matter at the end of the day.

Good luck,
Eric

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Post by Wham » Tue, 02 Aug 2005 2:36 pm

good luck - sounds like a real nightmare. Hopefully a lawyer can sort it out without too much cost.

What kind of store makes such a big stink over a $3 item after an $800 purchase?

Guest

Post by Guest » Tue, 02 Aug 2005 3:30 pm

Mustafa... insufferably rude staff with perpetually long faces and horrible service is a given. I admit service needs beefing up in singapore but shopping here is always an unpleasant experience.

$court

Post by $court » Tue, 02 Aug 2005 3:50 pm

There's something to this thread that just doesn't add up.

First, it was caught on tape. Then, we are told the item slipped into his bag. Surely the video will prove his innocence???

Next, we are told that the item in question costs $3, and the OP wonders if it will be presented to court? What's the salary of our court officials these days?

Finally, we are casually told that shopping at Mustapha is always unpleasant. Just how many staff from Mustapha will be attending the $3 court case and what will their salaries be?

Guest

Post by Guest » Tue, 02 Aug 2005 5:06 pm

It was 9 pm on thursday when I received a call that my nephew was being held at the security office at mustafa. I rushed down in a cab only to be told he was arrested and detained in a cell at the t police station.

He is twenty and currently serving NS, caught in his uniform with an item in his bag. He was carrying several items without the assistance of a shopping basket, had loads of things on his mind and one of the items slipped into his bag.

When it was time to pay, the item was not amongst them. Thinking he had left it on the shelf, he was prepared to leave when he was detained. Now, several questions begs asking:

1) Any singaporean worth his salt would know that being caught for any offence in a uniform is extremely serious. Why would a bright kid accepted into uni next year steal a $3 item... and that in a uniform???

2) This is a kid with a good rep in school and also in the army.. without a record for wrongdoing.

3) Why steal a measly $3 item when he paid for a camera for $800?

I'm fond of leaving my bag in the basket or trolley when shopping and an item could have slipped in without my knowledge. Does that make me a thief?

After this incident, I'll be extremely wary of this...having my sister watching her son being escorted out of a shopping centre is an extremely unforgettable experience.

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Post by dot dot dot » Tue, 02 Aug 2005 5:11 pm

As much as I can sympathize, I do pity the whole thing happening, I will not judge it, but now I am really asking myself here:

What do you want to hear from this forum here now? :?

Everything has been said, you keep adding details to the story (why not make the full story in the first place?) and then wait for reactions?

print your story, get a lawyer and hand it over!

Eric

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