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Feb 16, 2009
Grafitti suspect held at IMH
<!--10 min--> <!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- Author --> <!-- show image if available --> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Elena Chong, Court Correspondent
</td></tr> </tbody></table><!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--> A 48-YEAR-OLD unemployed man who scribbled on the display wall of Parliament House last month was ordered on Monday to be kept in safe custody at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) pending a Minister's order. Koh Chan Meng was found to be of unsound mind at the time of the alleged offence. IMH psychiatrist Dr Emily Ho Chui Ling said in her report on Jan 28 that Koh had a relapse of schizophrenia and was of unsound mind when she examined him. She said he could not explain why he went to Parliament House and his alleged offence.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Cheryl Kam said in her statement of facts that a Certis Cisco security officer was on duty at the main entrance on Jan 14 when he saw Koh walking around the grounds of Parliament House, looking suspicious. He followed Koh and saw him take out a marker pen from his pocket and scribble on the wall. When asked to stop, Koh ignored the officer and walked away. He detained Koh with the help of his colleagues. Koh had written: 'Hi Harry Lee I love you' on Jan 14. His two earlier scribblings a day before were captured on CCTV footage. Before Koh's plea was taken, Mr Noor Marican told Community Court judge Roy Neighbour: 'He said the charges were true - in his own words - and that it was his fault for not taking his medicine regularly and properly.'' Koh also said to the lawyer that he was 'frustrated'' because he could not get a job. Mr Marican said his client was sorry for what had happened and would not do it again.
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Feb 16, 2009
Grafitti suspect held at IMH
<!--10 min--> <!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- Author --> <!-- show image if available --> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Elena Chong, Court Correspondent
</td></tr> </tbody></table><!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--> A 48-YEAR-OLD unemployed man who scribbled on the display wall of Parliament House last month was ordered on Monday to be kept in safe custody at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) pending a Minister's order. Koh Chan Meng was found to be of unsound mind at the time of the alleged offence. IMH psychiatrist Dr Emily Ho Chui Ling said in her report on Jan 28 that Koh had a relapse of schizophrenia and was of unsound mind when she examined him. She said he could not explain why he went to Parliament House and his alleged offence.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Cheryl Kam said in her statement of facts that a Certis Cisco security officer was on duty at the main entrance on Jan 14 when he saw Koh walking around the grounds of Parliament House, looking suspicious. He followed Koh and saw him take out a marker pen from his pocket and scribble on the wall. When asked to stop, Koh ignored the officer and walked away. He detained Koh with the help of his colleagues. Koh had written: 'Hi Harry Lee I love you' on Jan 14. His two earlier scribblings a day before were captured on CCTV footage. Before Koh's plea was taken, Mr Noor Marican told Community Court judge Roy Neighbour: 'He said the charges were true - in his own words - and that it was his fault for not taking his medicine regularly and properly.'' Koh also said to the lawyer that he was 'frustrated'' because he could not get a job. Mr Marican said his client was sorry for what had happened and would not do it again.
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