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Man steals from temple to splurge on beer and cigarettes
By Khushwant Singh
Chew Chin Hwang stole a donation box containing $350 from the Long Nam Dian Temple in Jalan Kayu in November 2011 and spent the money on beer and cigarettes. The 42-year-old also broke into four vehicles to steal cash and cashcards in the same month.
As the unemployed man had a criminal past that District Judge Low Wee Ping referred to as 'shocking', Chew was sentenced to five years of corrective training. This harsher prison regime is specially for recalcitrant offenders and incorporated strenuous activities and counselling to instill discipline and training so inmates are able to find employment upon release. There is also no one-third remission of sentence that ordinary prisoners get for good behaviour.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Zhong Zewei told the court that at 9.20pm on Nov 8, 2011, the temple caretaker locked up the temple leaving a donation tin at the temple's entrance. There was a lock on the tin but it was not secured to any fixture. The next morning, the tin was missing.
Investigations revealed that Chew stole the tin, broke it open and spent the $350 he found mostly on beer and cigarettes.
By Khushwant Singh
Chew Chin Hwang stole a donation box containing $350 from the Long Nam Dian Temple in Jalan Kayu in November 2011 and spent the money on beer and cigarettes. The 42-year-old also broke into four vehicles to steal cash and cashcards in the same month.
As the unemployed man had a criminal past that District Judge Low Wee Ping referred to as 'shocking', Chew was sentenced to five years of corrective training. This harsher prison regime is specially for recalcitrant offenders and incorporated strenuous activities and counselling to instill discipline and training so inmates are able to find employment upon release. There is also no one-third remission of sentence that ordinary prisoners get for good behaviour.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Zhong Zewei told the court that at 9.20pm on Nov 8, 2011, the temple caretaker locked up the temple leaving a donation tin at the temple's entrance. There was a lock on the tin but it was not secured to any fixture. The next morning, the tin was missing.
Investigations revealed that Chew stole the tin, broke it open and spent the $350 he found mostly on beer and cigarettes.
