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[h=2]FT doctor cleared of molest leaves S’pore for Australia[/h]
May 26th, 2013 |
Author: Editorial
Dr Liyanage is now working in a Melbourne hospital (ST
Photo).
A Sri Lankan doctor working at Changi General Hospital (CGH), Senaka
Liyanage, who was cleared of molestation charges by the District Court last
month (24 April) has left Singapore.
He left for Melbourne last week to join his wife and two young children after
his lawyer confirmed that the public prosecutor was not appealing the case. He
is now working in a Melbourne hospital in Australia.
Last July 2, he was charged with 3 counts of touching the buttocks of a nurse
in an operating theatre on 5 April 2012, during an operation. He was part of a
team of doctors performing the operation on a patient that day. The nurse who
claimed that he molested her resigned from CGH last year.
Dr Liyanage, a University of Colombo graduate, is believed to have joined CGH
in 2010 and is a specialist in anaesthesia and surgical intensive care.
The District Judge said in his oral judgement that the prosecution’s case
rested “mainly on the testimony of the complainant”. He said there was “no
independent corroboration” and that “none of the three incidents was witnessed
by anyone in the operating theatre”.
The judge said that while it is well-established law that an accused person
may be convicted of a sexual offence on the uncorroborated testimony of the
complainant, the evidence must be “unusually convincing” to prove the
prosecution’s case beyond reasonable doubt.
However, after consideration, the judge said he found the victim’s evidence
insufficient in itself. Dr Liyanage was therefore cleared of molestation.
Speaking from Melbourne, Dr Liyanage said he was “neither mad nor angry”
about the 6-day trial.
He said, “When I faced the judge for the verdict to be announced, I was
upbeat in my mind and expected to be acquitted because I had done no wrong.”
He added, “I am a foreigner and without the help of a Singaporean who
believed in me and provided bail, I would have been remanded instead awaiting
trial.”
“I am grateful for all the support I received and have fond memories.”
He said that his lawyer fees were paid by medical insurers.
Still, despite his “fond memories” of Singapore, he is not staying here and
has moved his whole family to Australia.
This is not surprising since many foreigners are merely treating Singapore as
a “temporary refuge” or a “hotel”. They are here to make money and gain
experience before moving off to the real first world countries to settle down.
It is futile for the PAP Govt to think that most foreigners are committed to
Singapore and will eventually take up Singapore citizenship and settle down here
with their family.
A foreign expatriate posted the following on the Singapore Expat Forum
revealing his true feelings about Singapore [Link]:
Wd40: If you want to and have it in you, to go to the US
then now is the right time. This year H1B filings start in March. Go to
naukri.com and search for H1B and just apply for all companies that are going to
file for this year. You never know if you are lucky enough you end up in the
land of huge opportunities for IT and your life is settled.
Just get Singapore out of your mind. Singapore is not the place
where you plan and put in efforts to get to. It’s a good place if a headhunter
hunts you and offers you the moon.
.
Join our TRE facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/TREmeritus
Dr Liyanage is now working in a Melbourne hospital (ST
Photo).
A Sri Lankan doctor working at Changi General Hospital (CGH), Senaka
Liyanage, who was cleared of molestation charges by the District Court last
month (24 April) has left Singapore.
He left for Melbourne last week to join his wife and two young children after
his lawyer confirmed that the public prosecutor was not appealing the case. He
is now working in a Melbourne hospital in Australia.
Last July 2, he was charged with 3 counts of touching the buttocks of a nurse
in an operating theatre on 5 April 2012, during an operation. He was part of a
team of doctors performing the operation on a patient that day. The nurse who
claimed that he molested her resigned from CGH last year.
Dr Liyanage, a University of Colombo graduate, is believed to have joined CGH
in 2010 and is a specialist in anaesthesia and surgical intensive care.
The District Judge said in his oral judgement that the prosecution’s case
rested “mainly on the testimony of the complainant”. He said there was “no
independent corroboration” and that “none of the three incidents was witnessed
by anyone in the operating theatre”.
The judge said that while it is well-established law that an accused person
may be convicted of a sexual offence on the uncorroborated testimony of the
complainant, the evidence must be “unusually convincing” to prove the
prosecution’s case beyond reasonable doubt.
However, after consideration, the judge said he found the victim’s evidence
insufficient in itself. Dr Liyanage was therefore cleared of molestation.
Speaking from Melbourne, Dr Liyanage said he was “neither mad nor angry”
about the 6-day trial.
He said, “When I faced the judge for the verdict to be announced, I was
upbeat in my mind and expected to be acquitted because I had done no wrong.”
He added, “I am a foreigner and without the help of a Singaporean who
believed in me and provided bail, I would have been remanded instead awaiting
trial.”
“I am grateful for all the support I received and have fond memories.”
He said that his lawyer fees were paid by medical insurers.
Still, despite his “fond memories” of Singapore, he is not staying here and
has moved his whole family to Australia.
This is not surprising since many foreigners are merely treating Singapore as
a “temporary refuge” or a “hotel”. They are here to make money and gain
experience before moving off to the real first world countries to settle down.
It is futile for the PAP Govt to think that most foreigners are committed to
Singapore and will eventually take up Singapore citizenship and settle down here
with their family.
A foreign expatriate posted the following on the Singapore Expat Forum
revealing his true feelings about Singapore [Link]:
Wd40: If you want to and have it in you, to go to the US
then now is the right time. This year H1B filings start in March. Go to
naukri.com and search for H1B and just apply for all companies that are going to
file for this year. You never know if you are lucky enough you end up in the
land of huge opportunities for IT and your life is settled.
Just get Singapore out of your mind. Singapore is not the place
where you plan and put in efforts to get to. It’s a good place if a headhunter
hunts you and offers you the moon.
Join our TRE facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/TREmeritus
even ostrich also can! 
