Man fined for sleeping naked in govt building
By Khushwant Singh
The Straits Times
Monday, Mar 18, 2013
SINGAPORE - A drunken man who thought he was asleep at home was found dozing naked in a government building.
Lim Soo Wee went for a lie-down at the carpark staircase landing of the Ministry of National Development building in the early hours of Feb 21.
When he started feeling hot, the 50-year-old stripped off and continued his slumber at the building in Maxwell Road.
Police were tipped off and went to wake him up at 4.30am and told him to put on his clothes.
He complied - but they arrested him for appearing naked in a public place.
On Friday, he pleaded guilty to committing the offence and a district court imposed the maximum fine of $2,000.
It emerged that Lim had two similar previous convictions.
In July 2007, he was fined $1,000 and then fined $1,500 in September the same year.
He also has previous convictions for criminal intimidation and causing hurt.
Pleading for a lenient sentence, Lim said: "I thought I was sleeping at home, but when I woke up, I was in the police station."
He also said that he had been on remand since the incident.
Lim, who is unemployed, was unable to pay the fine and will serve a week in jail in default.
Any person convicted of appearing nude in a public place or in a private place that is exposed to public view could be fined up to $2,000, jailed for up to three months, or sentenced to both.
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By Khushwant Singh
The Straits Times
Monday, Mar 18, 2013
SINGAPORE - A drunken man who thought he was asleep at home was found dozing naked in a government building.
Lim Soo Wee went for a lie-down at the carpark staircase landing of the Ministry of National Development building in the early hours of Feb 21.
When he started feeling hot, the 50-year-old stripped off and continued his slumber at the building in Maxwell Road.
Police were tipped off and went to wake him up at 4.30am and told him to put on his clothes.
He complied - but they arrested him for appearing naked in a public place.
On Friday, he pleaded guilty to committing the offence and a district court imposed the maximum fine of $2,000.
It emerged that Lim had two similar previous convictions.
In July 2007, he was fined $1,000 and then fined $1,500 in September the same year.
He also has previous convictions for criminal intimidation and causing hurt.
Pleading for a lenient sentence, Lim said: "I thought I was sleeping at home, but when I woke up, I was in the police station."
He also said that he had been on remand since the incident.
Lim, who is unemployed, was unable to pay the fine and will serve a week in jail in default.
Any person convicted of appearing nude in a public place or in a private place that is exposed to public view could be fined up to $2,000, jailed for up to three months, or sentenced to both.
[email protected]
