<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" itxtvisited="1"><TBODY itxtvisited="1"><TR itxtvisited="1"><TD itxtvisited="1">(News) Cabby jailed for hugging teen MinMin Yesterday, 08:52 PM </TD><TD vAlign=top width=210 align=right itxtvisited="1">#1 (permalink) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></ itxtvisited="1">
Cabby jailed for hugging teen
A High Court judge increased Heng Swee Weng's (left) sentence after an appeal by the prosecution, saying that a clear message must be sent out that inappropriate behaviour by public transport workers will not be tolerated. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN
A 57-YEAR-OLD cabby who was fined $2,000 at first for hugging a 15-year-old Australian student on Tuesday found himself being sent to jail for eight weeks instead.
A High Court judge increased Heng Swee Weng's sentence after an appeal by the prosecution, saying that a clear message must be sent out that inappropriate behaviour by public transport workers will not be tolerated.
Justice V. K. Rajah considered factors including the age of the victim and that Heng knew she was lost but led her into believing he would help her.
The judge said he would give detailed reasons in writing at a later date.
On the night of Nov 1 last year, the girl was on her way home from school, but took the wrong bus and became lost in Bedok.
She flagged down Heng's taxi, told him she was lost and had no money but needed to get home.
Cabby jailed for hugging teen
A High Court judge increased Heng Swee Weng's (left) sentence after an appeal by the prosecution, saying that a clear message must be sent out that inappropriate behaviour by public transport workers will not be tolerated. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN
A 57-YEAR-OLD cabby who was fined $2,000 at first for hugging a 15-year-old Australian student on Tuesday found himself being sent to jail for eight weeks instead.
A High Court judge increased Heng Swee Weng's sentence after an appeal by the prosecution, saying that a clear message must be sent out that inappropriate behaviour by public transport workers will not be tolerated.
Justice V. K. Rajah considered factors including the age of the victim and that Heng knew she was lost but led her into believing he would help her.
The judge said he would give detailed reasons in writing at a later date.
On the night of Nov 1 last year, the girl was on her way home from school, but took the wrong bus and became lost in Bedok.
She flagged down Heng's taxi, told him she was lost and had no money but needed to get home.
