NZ man jumps bail, warrant of arrest issued
The New Paper
Wednesday, Dec 21, 2011
A New Zealander accused of being involved with two other Caucasian men in a fracas at Suntec City last year has jumped bail.
A warrant of arrest was issued against Robert Stephen Dahlberg, 34, an options broker, on Sept 12 this year, after he failed to return to Singapore from an overseas trip.
Dahlberg had been charged with committing a rash act and causing hurt to Mr Laurence Wong Seong, 38, a businessman, on April 11, 2010, at 12.17am, at Suntec City .
He is also alleged to have pushed another man, Mr Paul Louis Liew Kai Ming, 26, causing him to hit his face against a pillar.
Mr Liew is said to have fractured his nasal bone and suffered a 4cm cut on his forehead.
Dahlberg and the other two men, Robert James Springall, 24, a Briton, and Nathan Robert Miller, 35, an Australian, were charged on July 7 this year.
The Kiwi was granted bail of $25,000 and was given permission to leave Singapore for London and Hong Kong from July 11 to 29.
Springall, an options broker like Dahlberg, was released on a bail of $6,000, while Miller's bail was $10,000.
After his trip, Dahlberg was supposed to surrender his passport to the Singapore police on Aug 1.
However, The New Paper understands that he has not returned from his trip. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Dahlberg was represented by lawyer Sunil Sudheesan.
TNP tried to contact his parents at his hometown in Nelson, New Zealand, but the calls were diverted to an answering machine.
Indeed, his father, Bill, defended his son in a New Zealand Herald report on July 9. He stressed that Dahlberg was "in the wrong place, at the wrong time, in the wrong country".
Singapore has an extradition agreement with Commonwealth countries, including New Zealand, but it is not known if Dahlberg is now there.
The authorities here have to track down his whereabouts first before the Attorney-General's Chambers puts in a request for extradition.
Cases adjourned
Meanwhile, the cases involving Springall and Miller have been adjourned to Jan 11 next year. They are now at the pre-trial conference stage.
Springall allegedly shoved Mr Tan Boon Kin, 57, a taxi driver in the chest on April 11.
He is accused of taking over the cab and driving it away without due regard for the safety of others. The cab crashed into a signage pole on the driveway near the Starbucks outlet in Temasek Boulevard.
Miller, who is believed to be an executive, allegedly punched another cabby, Mr Tay Gek Heng, 45, in the face.
He is also alleged to have behaved in a disorderly manner by jumping on the bonnet of the taxi.
If convicted of hurting Mr Liew, Dahlberg can be jailed 10 years and caned.
If found guilty of taking a vehicle without the owner's consent, Springall can be jailed three months or fined a maximum of $1,000.
And if convicted of behaving in a disorderly manner, Miller can be jailed a month or fined $1,000.
This article was first published in The New Paper.
The New Paper
Wednesday, Dec 21, 2011
A New Zealander accused of being involved with two other Caucasian men in a fracas at Suntec City last year has jumped bail.
A warrant of arrest was issued against Robert Stephen Dahlberg, 34, an options broker, on Sept 12 this year, after he failed to return to Singapore from an overseas trip.
Dahlberg had been charged with committing a rash act and causing hurt to Mr Laurence Wong Seong, 38, a businessman, on April 11, 2010, at 12.17am, at Suntec City .
He is also alleged to have pushed another man, Mr Paul Louis Liew Kai Ming, 26, causing him to hit his face against a pillar.
Mr Liew is said to have fractured his nasal bone and suffered a 4cm cut on his forehead.
Dahlberg and the other two men, Robert James Springall, 24, a Briton, and Nathan Robert Miller, 35, an Australian, were charged on July 7 this year.
The Kiwi was granted bail of $25,000 and was given permission to leave Singapore for London and Hong Kong from July 11 to 29.
Springall, an options broker like Dahlberg, was released on a bail of $6,000, while Miller's bail was $10,000.
After his trip, Dahlberg was supposed to surrender his passport to the Singapore police on Aug 1.
However, The New Paper understands that he has not returned from his trip. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Dahlberg was represented by lawyer Sunil Sudheesan.
TNP tried to contact his parents at his hometown in Nelson, New Zealand, but the calls were diverted to an answering machine.
Indeed, his father, Bill, defended his son in a New Zealand Herald report on July 9. He stressed that Dahlberg was "in the wrong place, at the wrong time, in the wrong country".
Singapore has an extradition agreement with Commonwealth countries, including New Zealand, but it is not known if Dahlberg is now there.
The authorities here have to track down his whereabouts first before the Attorney-General's Chambers puts in a request for extradition.
Cases adjourned
Meanwhile, the cases involving Springall and Miller have been adjourned to Jan 11 next year. They are now at the pre-trial conference stage.
Springall allegedly shoved Mr Tan Boon Kin, 57, a taxi driver in the chest on April 11.
He is accused of taking over the cab and driving it away without due regard for the safety of others. The cab crashed into a signage pole on the driveway near the Starbucks outlet in Temasek Boulevard.
Miller, who is believed to be an executive, allegedly punched another cabby, Mr Tay Gek Heng, 45, in the face.
He is also alleged to have behaved in a disorderly manner by jumping on the bonnet of the taxi.
If convicted of hurting Mr Liew, Dahlberg can be jailed 10 years and caned.
If found guilty of taking a vehicle without the owner's consent, Springall can be jailed three months or fined a maximum of $1,000.
And if convicted of behaving in a disorderly manner, Miller can be jailed a month or fined $1,000.
This article was first published in The New Paper.
