Expats who jump bail: Officer charged with neglect of duty

[Terry Bogard]

Expats who jump bail: Officer charged with neglect of duty

The accused persons, New Zealander Robert Stephen Dahlberg (L), 34, and Briton Robert James Springall (R), 25, face charges over a brawl that took place at Suntec City two years ago.

AsiaOne
Tuesday, Jul 10, 2012

An Investigation Officer has been charged with neglect of duty over a brawl at Suntec City in April 2010, in which two foreigners had jumped bail in February this year.

Second Minister for Home Affairs S Iswaran said in Parliament today that a letter of warning has also been issued to his supervisor.

Member of Parliament for Marine Parade GRC Tin Pei Ling had asked Mr Iswaran if there were any updates on the police inquiry into the case in which accused persons, New Zealander Robert Stephen Dahlberg, 34, and Briton Robert James Springall, 25, absconded while on bail.

Another accused, the pair's Australian friend, Nathan Robert Miller, 35, had pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three weeks' jail in February.

The trio were understood to be drunk when they abused two taxi drivers and two taxi passengers. They also hijacked and crashed a taxi.

In his answer, Mr Iswaran pointed out that the lapse was due to the error of an individual rather than to any systemic shortcomings, and that in general, the framework for the management of investigations is sound.

"The Standard Operating Procedures require supervisors to conduct regular checks on investigations and to give directions as appropriate to ensure that there is progress.

"If there is error or neglect in following established processes, the responsible officers will be taken to task, as evident in this case," said Mr Iswaran.

An internal inquiry was conducted by the police in March to "establish the full facts" on how Dahlberg and Springall had jumped bail.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean had said in a Parliament session on May 8 that "the police will take appropriate disciplinary action against the officers involved", if there were any lapses or negligence.

He also said that warrants of arrest have been issued against the two men who jumped bail, and the police are working closely with their overseas counterparts and Interpol to bring the pair back to face charges.

Ms Tin had also raised queries during the Parliament session in May over measures to prevent foreigners from fleeing jurisdiction before trial and asked if the ministry will consider making it standard operating procedure to impound foreigners' passports.

Mr Teo replied: "This case illustrates the challenges of ensuring that accused persons facing trial, whether they're Singaporeans or foreigners, do not abscond.

"As they have not yet been convicted of a crime, the presumption of innocence limits how far we can limit their movements.

"And, ultimately, the discretion rests with the courts to decide whether an accused person should be allowed to leave jurisdiction."

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[Kohliantye]

The heading is alright for these matter.

It would have been Nice if the Headline was As Follows"

Most Wanted Terrorist Who Escaped From Detention - Minister Charged With Neglect of Duty.

There is still time to do this.

Don't wait. Make hay While the Sun Shines.....

 

[kingrant]

But the Minister has total discretion at his pleasure to detain and lock up ordinary citizens without trial in an open court for indefinite periods if the PAP deemed them as a threat to the Party? What is the MF talking?

 

[Akuma]

If jailed, his PR will be reviewed -

By RENNIE WHANG
The New Paper
Wednesday, Sep 19, 2012

THE Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has clarified that the New Zealander who allegedly assaulted four men in April 2010 obtained Singapore permanent residency before the incident.

Robert Stephen Dahlberg, 35, was charged with causing grievous hurt in July last year. That same month, he jumped bail and fled Singapore.

He was arrested on his return here on Sept 6 this year and was produced in court the next day.

In an interview with The New Zealand Herald published on Sept 9, his father, Mr Bill Dahlberg, said his son had stayed in Singapore for 14 months after the incident, gaining PR status.

The remark made its rounds online, with questions being raised about how this man could have become a PR after his involvement in the incident.

Asked when he had been granted PR, an ICA spokesman said that it was "well before" the incident.

If convicted and jailed, Dahlberg will have his PR status reviewed, the spokesman told The New Paper on Friday.

"Among other things, ICA will consider the seriousness of the offence, especially if it is a crime, the extent of the person's involvement in the crime and the length of the jail sentence meted out by the Court," she said.

Dahlberg, an options broker, and two other Caucasians were believed to have been drunk in the early hours of April 11, 2010, when they abused two taxi drivers and two taxi passengers before hijacking and crashing a taxi.

He allegedly punched a businessman, Mr Laurence Wong Seong, 39, on the head.

He also held Mr Wong's friend, Mr Paul Louis Liew Kai Ming, 27, at this neck and slammed his head against a pillar.

Wound, fracture

Mr Liew suffered a wound on his forehead and a fractured nasal bone.

The trio were charged on July 7 last year.

Both Dahlberg and a co-accused, Briton and fellow options broker Robert James Springall, 26, ended up wanted by Interpol after they jumped bail.

Springall is still at large.

Of the three, only Australian Nathan Robert Miller, 35, has been dealt with. The business development manager served three week's jail earlier this year for punching cabby Tay Gek Heng, 47, in the face.

When contacted by TNP, Mr Bill Dahlberg said his son told him about the incident not long after it happened.

"Once Robert made the decision to return, I made arrangements to travel back with him and be in Singapore for his first court appearance," he said.

He added that they are concerned about the stress and injury caused to Mr Liew.

"My wife and I wrote to Mr Liew's parents via the Singapore High Commission in Wellington to apologise for the stress this must also be causing them."

In a statement, Robert Dahlberg said he was sorry for the inconvenience caused to the police while he was outside Singapore.

"I hope my return will allow everyone involved to find closure," he said.

He is now remanded at Changi Prison and will be back in court on Sept 21.

If convicted of voluntarily causing grievous hurt, Dahlberg can be jailed up to 10 years and fined or caned, it was reported earlier this month.

An ICA spokesman said foreigners who apply for Singapore PR are assessed on a set of criteria including economic contributions, qualifications, social contributions, the ability to integrate with Singapore society and whether the applicant has adverse records, among other things.

 

[Eomer]

New Zealander in Suntec City brawl case appears in court
By Leong Wai Kit | Posted: 27 September 2012 1917 hrs

Robert Stephen Dahlberg (Photo: Interpol)

SINGAPORE: A New Zealand man, who jumped bail last year following charges of assault, made a brief appearance in court on Thursday.

Robert Stephen Dahlberg was allegedly involved in a brawl in Suntec City two years ago.

He jumped bail last year, after being charged with two cases of assault.

However, he turned himself in on September 6 this year.

Dahlberg's lawyers on Thursday asked for a pre-trial conference so that they can take further instructions from their client.

Dahlberg is accused of punching a man, Mr Laurence Wong Seong, in the head.

He is also accused of causing grievous hurt to another man, Mr Paul Louis Liew Kai Ming.

Dahlberg allegedly held Mr Liew's neck and slammed his head against a pillar.

He also allegedly kicked Mr Liew in the face, causing his nostrils to bleed and his nasal bone to fracture.

If found guilty of voluntarily causing grievous hurt, Dahlberg faces a maximum of 10 years' jail and a fine or caning.

If found guilty of causing hurt by a rash act, he faces up to one year's jail and a S$5,000 fine.

His co-accused, Briton Robert James Springall, is still at large.

A third man was involved in the case.

He is Australian Nathan Robert Miller, who was sentenced in February to three weeks' jail.

- CNA/cc

 

[Akuma]

Jail for causing hurt for New Zealander who jumped bail

By Kimberly Spykerman | Posted: 20 November 2012 1634 hrs

SINGAPORE: A New Zealander who fled Singapore last year while on court bail and who later returned to turn himself in, was sentenced to five months' jail by a district court on Tuesday.

Robert Stephen Dahlberg, 35, pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing hurt to Mr Paul Louis Liew Kai Ming during a brawl at Suntec City in 2010.

Court documents stated that Dahlberg held Mr Liew by his neck, slammed his head against a pillar, and kicked him in the face.

The assault left Mr Liew with a large laceration on his forehead, a fractured nasal bone, and bleeding from his nose.

Another charge of causing hurt by a rash act, where Dahlberg swung his fist and hit Mr Laurence Wong Seong in the head was taken into consideration.

Dahlberg turned himself in to Singapore police on September 6 this year - more than a year after he obtained permission from the courts to go overseas in July 2011. He was supposed to return by 1 August 2011.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Yang Ziliang told the court that by jumping bail, Dahlberg had disrupted the court process and undermined the administration of justice.

His lawyer Wendell Wong said that Dahlberg had committed the offences against Mr Liew in a moment of ill-judgment, and had told investigators that he wanted to reimburse Mr Liew for his medical expenses and apologise to him.

Mr Wong also asked the judge not to impose a harsh sentence on Dahlberg, as Mr Liew's injuries did not require surgery and he was treated as an outpatient.

He added that Dahlberg was remorseful, and had shown himself to be so by returning to Singapore to give himself up to the authorities.

Dahlberg's parents were in court, accompanied by a group of friends.

The judge noted that this was an "unfortunate set of events" and that Dahlberg's involvement appeared to be spontaneous and not pre-meditated.

However, he noted that the facts were clear that Dahlberg had not simply pushed Mr Liew, but kicked him in the face as well.

In passing the sentence, he backdated it to September 7, when Dahlberg was first remanded.

Dahlberg could have been jailed up up to 10 years, fined or caned.

In a statement to the media, Dahlberg's father said that the past two years have taken a 'huge emotional toll' on both Dahlberg and his family.

"We are all focusing on getting Robert through the remaining period in prison, getting him home, and helping him rebuild his life," said the elder Mr Dahlberg.

Dahlberg also told the court through his lawyer that he will reimburse Mr Liew for his medical expenses which amount to about $2,700.

Two other expatriates - a Briton and an Australian - were also involved in the 2010 brawl.

Australian Nathan Robert Miller, 36, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three weeks' jail in February 2012.

But Briton Robert James Springall, 25, who also fled Singapore after being charged, is still on the run.

- CNA/de