American overstayer faces caning

[chobolan]

Oct 21, 2010
American overstayer faces caning

By Khushwant Singh

US EMBASSY MONITORING CASE

The case has caught the attention of US officials. 'The US Embassy is closely monitoring the case and embassy officials have provided consular assistance to this individual, including six visits by consular officials,' a spokesman for the mission told AFP.

If caned Kamari would be the first American to undergo the punishment in Singapore since the widely-publicised case of Michael Fay, an American teenager who was given four strokes of the cane in 1994 for vandalism. -- AFP

AN AMERICAN, who accompanied his wife to Singapore last December for fertility treatment, and overstayed, could be the first US citizen to be caned in 16 years. After his three-month social visit pass expired on March 15, Kamari Kenyada Charlton, 37, is believed to have remained in Singapore for an extra 169 days, which is nearly half a year, without permission from the immigration authorities.

Under the law, overstaying for more than 90 days is punished by a jail term of up to six months and a minimum three strokes of the cane. Charlton, who was born in the Bahamas, was arrested at Changi Airport on Sept 1 as he was about to leave the country, his lawyer M. Ravi said at a press conference on Thursday.

The lawyer added that the Attorney-General's Chambers had rejected a request to consider compounding the offence and imposing a fine as was the case of several overstayers including a Croatian cousin of Charlton's wife, who had overstayed for 194 days and was allowed to leave after paying a composition fine of $500.

Mr Ravi is planning to take the case to the High Court on grounds of discrimination. Charlton, who now runs a construction business in the Bahamas, is being remanded while his wife, who has both Australian and British citizenship, is back in the Bahamas and expecting a baby girl.

If caned, he would be the first American to be punished this way in Singapore since the widely-publicised case of the then 18-year-old American teenager Michael Fay, who was sentenced to four months in jail and four strokes of the cane in 1994 for vandalism, despite appeals for leniency by then US President Bill Clinton. Charlton will appear in court on Friday for his lawyer to make arrangements for the trial.

 

[chobolan]

American businessman faces caning after overstaying in S'pore


American businessman faces caning after overstaying in S'pore
By Ng Jing Yng | Posted: 21 October 2010 1854 hrs
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SINGAPORE : An American businessman is facing the prospect of being caned in Singapore after overstaying his visa by almost half a year, his lawyer said on Thursday.

Currently in remand, Kamari Kenyada Charlton, 37, had allegedly overstayed for 169 days after his three-month social visit pass expired.

His lawyer, Mr M Ravi, said Charlton was not aware of the overstaying rules here and was arrested on September 1 at Changi Airport when he was trying to return to the Bahamas where he lives.

Mr Ravi said that he will be taking up this case pro bono and will be arguing on the grounds of discrimination.

He cited a previous case earlier this year where a Croatian, who had overstayed 25 days more than Charlton, was allowed to compound the offence with a S$500 fine.

Mr Ravi's request to the Attorney-General's Chambers to compound Charlton's case had been rejected.

Charlton came to Singapore on 15 December 2009 to accompany his wife, who had come to the city-state to seek medical treatment for her pregnancy.

Charlton could face three strokes of the cane if he is convicted for overstaying in Singapore.

He could also be jailed up to six months.

The US Embassy told Channel NewsAsia it is closely monitoring the case. It said embassy officials have provided consular assistance to Charlton, including six visits by Consular officers.

A pre-trial conference will be held on Friday.

Charlton could be the next US citizen, after Michael Fay, to be caned if convicted of overstaying.

Fay was given four strokes of the cane in 1994 for vandalism. - CNA/AFP/ls

 

[Da Qiao]

Caning is 'not appropriate': US


Oct 22, 2010
Caning is 'not appropriate': US

THE US State Department has said that caning in Singapore is 'not an appropriate form of punishment', as an American citizen may face such penalty for immigration violation in the island-state, reported Xinhua news agency.

'This is something we've made clear in our human rights report and also something we've conveyed to the government of Singapore in our bilateral discussions,' said State Department spokesman Mark Toner on Thursday.

Kamari Charlton, an American businessman and a former football player for Florida State University, may become the first US citizen to be caned in Singapore in 16 years after he overstayed his visa.

'He has not been convicted, and in fact the case is still in pre-trial status,' Mr Toner said, adding the US embassy in Singapore is closely monitoring it. 'It's our hope that a resolution can be reached in the case,' he said.

 

[General Veers]

US man on cheating charge


Oct 22, 2010
US man on cheating charge

By Elena Chong

AN AMERICAN accused of overstaying in Singapore was charged on Friday with conspiracy to cheat an Australian in a phone scam. Kamari Kenyada Charlton, 37, is believed to have been involved in similar cases and was remanded for further investigation.

He was first charged in court early last month for overstaying in Singapore for 169 days after his social visit pass expired in mid-March. Charlton, who is in remand, is now charged with conspiring with others in Singapore and elsewhere to cheat by making calls to Mr Mirko Prskalo in Australia in March.

He allegedly deceived Mr Prskalo into believing that his nephew and family were in urgent need of funds while in Singapore, and induced him to remit A$17,145 (S$21,821) on four occasions to him in Singapore via the Western Union. His lawyer, Mr M. Ravi, is no longer acting for him. His new lawyers Hamidul Haq and Thong Chee Kun appeared for him in chambers at a pre-trial conference. The next pre-trial conference is on Friday.

In an e-mail response to media queries, police said that a police gazette for his arrest had been issued following a number of criminal complaints made against him, including two through Interpol by a foreign Police agency. Charlton is currently being investigated for cheating-related and money laundering offences arising from these complaints. The complaints being investigated include alleged cheating of elderly Australians, through a phone scam operation.

 

[byleftcan]

Rotan his ass!

 

[boba fett]

American faces cheating charge


Oct 23, 2010

American faces cheating charge
He allegedly duped elderly Australian into sending funds for nephew here

By Elena Chong

Charlton is being investigated for cheating-related and money laundering offences. There are a number of criminal complaints against him, including two made through Interpol, by a foreign police agency. -- PHOTO: CF13NEWS.COM

AN AMERICAN businessman was yesterday charged with conspiracy to cheat an Australian in a mobile phone scam operation. Last month, Kamari Kenyada Charlton, 37, was also charged with overstaying in Singapore. In March, Charlton - who was then in Singapore - had made calls from his mobile phone to a Mr Mirko Prskalo in Australia.

He allegedly duped the 74-year-old into believing that his nephew and family were in urgent need of funds in Singapore. He is alleged to have induced Mr Prskalo to remit a total of A$17,145 (S$21,800) on four occasions via Western Union, a financial services company. If convicted of this charge, he can be jailed up to 10 years and fined. Now in remand, he did not appear in court and the charge was read to him via video link.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.
[email protected]

 

[scroobal]

Re: American faces cheating charge

Ravi sure can pick them up. There are deserving cases of Singaporeans who plead guilty for the lack of funds and thus no appropriate legal representation. And we pick idiots like these for pro bono cases.

Classic feature of cocktail circuit freedom fighters.

 

[kingrant]

Whatever happens, I'm waiting for some great action drama after the last Swede graffiti artist hullabaloo fizzled out.

This time it's an American citizen!

 

[scroobal]

You are right and its our own little excitement.

Whatever happens, I'm waiting for some great action drama after the last Swede graffiti artist hullabaloo fizzled out.

This time it's an American citizen!

 

[bouchermark654]

He allegedly deceived Mr Prskalo into believing that his nephew and family were in urgent need of funds while in Singapore, and induced him to remit A$17,145 (S$21,821) on four occasions to him in Singapore via the Western Union. His lawyer, Mr M. Ravi, is no longer acting for him. His new lawyers Hamidul Haq and Thong Chee Kun appeared for him in chambers at a pre-trial conference. The next pre-trial conference is on Friday.


Legal Advice Bureau

 

[Gyuki]

Lawyer spews vulgarities


Oct 27, 2010
Lawyer spews vulgarities

By Kimberly Spykerman & Liew Hanqing

LAWYER M. Ravi called a press conference yesterday to defend his comments over a criminal case, but ended up smashing a glass, spewing vulgarities and yelling at journalists to leave his office. Mr Ravi, 41, had sought the meeting with the media to 'set the record straight' over what he claimed were inaccuracies in the reporting of his role and statements he made in the case of his former client, American businessman Kamari Kenyada Charlton.

The 37-year-old businessman was arrested on Sept 1 for allegedly overstaying his visa. The next day, Charlton, a former Florida State University football player living in the Bahamas, was charged with overstaying. Last Friday, he faced an additional charge of conspiracy to cheat an Australian in a mobile phone scam operation. Mr Ravi told the media last week that he intended to argue Charlton's case on grounds of discrimination.

Law Minister K. Shanmugam countered on Sunday that the courts did not discriminate against individuals based on nationality. The law applied 'equally to everyone, whether a foreigner or local, regardless of nationality and regardless of background and status', the minister told reporters when asked about the case at a weekend event.

 

[Gyuki]

More charges for American


Dec 1, 2010

21 CHARGES OF MONEY LAUNDERING
More charges for American

By Elena Chong

Kamari Kenyada Charlton, 37, a former Florida State University football player, was earlier accused of overstaying for 169 days and cheating an Australian retiree of $17,142 in a conspiracy with others. --PHOTO: INTERNET

AN AMERICAN businessman now in remand for overstaying was accused on Wednesday of 21 charges of money laundering. Kamari Kenyada Charlton, 37, a former Florida State University football player, was earlier accused of overstaying for 169 days and cheating an Australian retiree of $17,142 in a conspiracy with others.

The fresh charges accuse him of 21 counts of acquiring cash ranging from $4,769 to $58,288 for no consideration, and having reasonable grounds to believe that the property directly represented another person's benefits from criminal conduct.

The alleged offences, resulting in about $325,000 laundered, occurred from July 2008 to April this year. Charlton's next pre-trial conference is on Dec 15. The penalty for each of the money-laundering charge is a fine of up to $500,000 or up to seven years' jail or to both.

 

[Gyuki]

Ex-American footballer faces more money-laundering charges


Ex-American footballer faces more money-laundering charges
By Shaffiq Alkhatib | Posted: 01 December 2010 1601 hrs
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SINGAPORE: Former American football player, Kamari Kenyada Charlton, who is accused of overstaying in Singapore, faces 21 money-laundering charges involving S$324,871.73.

The 37-year-old allegedly committed these offences in Singapore between July 10, 2008 and April 30, this year.

The money which he allegedly acquired is believed to be the proceeds from another person's criminal activity.

However, court papers did not the reveal the identity of this other party.

Charlton's cheating charge has also been amended to one of money-laundering.

He was originally accused of cheating an Australian man, identified as Mirko Prskalo of A$17,144.71 (S$21,763.90).

The former Florida State University football star first made the headlines earlier this year when he allegedly overstayed in Singapore for 169 days.

If convicted of overstaying, he could be the first American in 16 years to be caned in Singapore.

American teenager, Michael Fay was caned in 1994 after being convicted of vandalism.

Charlton is represented by lawyers, Hamidul Haq and Thong Chee Kun from Rajah & Tann.

His next pre-trial conference will be held on December 15.

If convicted of money-laundering, he could be jailed for seven years and fined a maximum of S$500,000 for each charge.

- CNA/fa