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April 2, 2009
No to quash charges
By Elena Chong, Courts Correspondent
Principal special investigator Neo Siong Leng (left) had sought the court's approval to compound the matter, saying the victim had agreed to do so in return for an apology. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
A DISTRICT judge has rejected an application by a Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau officer to have his two assault charges compounded.
Principal special investigator Neo Siong Leng, 33, had sought the court's approval to compound the matter, saying the victim had agreed to do so in return for an apology.
He has been accused of kicking the table to hit Ms Lin Yanmei's knee and causing her pain in an interview room at the CPIB premises on Jan 14 last year.
The second charge accuses him of throwing a file at the 41-year-old Chinese national's face and causing injuries to her lips and tooth.
His lawyer, Mr Subhas Anandan, said his client had a good record.
He also tendered several testimonials from colleagues and others to show that he was a man of good character and a good officer.
Counsel said Neo was taking this route to avoid a long protracted trial and save the court's time, as well as make the victim testify in court.
He asked the court, in the interests of both parties, to exercise its discretion to allow composition so that the partiescould move on and 'leave this unfortunate incident behind them.''
Objecting, Deputy Public Prosecutor Francis Ng argued that there was a strong public interest against allowing composition in cases where law enforcement officers voluntarily cause hurt to accused persons and witnesses in the course of investigations.
He said Neo's conduct only eroded public confidence in law enforcement officers' ability to do their jobs fairly and impartially.
Furthermore, he said Neo had shown no remorse up to now.
District Judge James Leong agreed with the prosecution that this was not an appropriate case to allow composition.
April 2, 2009
No to quash charges
By Elena Chong, Courts Correspondent
Principal special investigator Neo Siong Leng (left) had sought the court's approval to compound the matter, saying the victim had agreed to do so in return for an apology. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
A DISTRICT judge has rejected an application by a Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau officer to have his two assault charges compounded.
Principal special investigator Neo Siong Leng, 33, had sought the court's approval to compound the matter, saying the victim had agreed to do so in return for an apology.
He has been accused of kicking the table to hit Ms Lin Yanmei's knee and causing her pain in an interview room at the CPIB premises on Jan 14 last year.
The second charge accuses him of throwing a file at the 41-year-old Chinese national's face and causing injuries to her lips and tooth.
His lawyer, Mr Subhas Anandan, said his client had a good record.
He also tendered several testimonials from colleagues and others to show that he was a man of good character and a good officer.
Counsel said Neo was taking this route to avoid a long protracted trial and save the court's time, as well as make the victim testify in court.
He asked the court, in the interests of both parties, to exercise its discretion to allow composition so that the partiescould move on and 'leave this unfortunate incident behind them.''
Objecting, Deputy Public Prosecutor Francis Ng argued that there was a strong public interest against allowing composition in cases where law enforcement officers voluntarily cause hurt to accused persons and witnesses in the course of investigations.
He said Neo's conduct only eroded public confidence in law enforcement officers' ability to do their jobs fairly and impartially.
Furthermore, he said Neo had shown no remorse up to now.
District Judge James Leong agreed with the prosecution that this was not an appropriate case to allow composition.