Wanbao's chief photographer handcuffed

[Cao Pi]

Jul 18, 2010
Photographer handcuffed

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Wanbao's chief photographer Shafie Goh shows the cudd marks on his arm. -- PHOTO: WANBAO

<!-- story content : start --> THE flood last Saturday morning not only dampened the mood of residents who woke up surrounded by rainwater but also that of photojournalist Shafie Goh. The 57-year-old veteran Lianhe Wanbao photojournalist was snapping shots of the flood in the Bukit Timah area when he was told by a policeman to move away. Minutes later, he was handcuffed. What happened before the handcuffs were used is a matter of dispute: Mr Goh said he was asked to go only once and was about to leave when the police handcuffed him.

The police, however, said that they had repeatedly asked Mr Goh to leave before they resorted to using force. Speaking to The Straits Times on Sunday, Mr Goh said he was standing on a manhole trying to get a picture of some partially submerged cars when he was told by an officer to leave. A police statement released on Sunday, however, said that officers had repeatedly asked Mr Goh to move to a safe place as he was taking photographs in a dangerous position.

But the man refused to comply and continued walking along the road divider, snapping pictures. A spokesman said: 'As he was causing obstruction to the police officer in the discharge of his duties and causing danger to himself and others, the officers decided to restrain him and move him to safe grounds, but the man resisted and put up a struggle.' The officers then had to handcuff him.

Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.

 

[SwineHunter]

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Lianhe Wanbao's chief photographer Shafie Goh (c) was briefly handcuffed by a policeman.​

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A closer look at the cuff marks seen on his arms.

Lianhe Wanbao's chief photographer Shafie Goh (c) showing the cuff marks on his arm.
He was briefly handcuffed by a policeman during the converage of a flood along Bukit Timah Road on 17 July 2010.​

 

[SwineHunter]

Seen here is the policeman who handcuffed photographer Shafie Goh.

Tenants at Lucky Plaza clean up after the flood waters subsided. Only shops in the basement were affected.

The flooding on Saturday morning was relatively mild compared to the one in June.
Not all shops were affected and the water had largely subsided by the time the tenants turned up to open their shops.



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[SwineHunter]

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Ten pumps were used to help remove the water from Cluny Court's second level of basement carparks.​

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A tenant at Katong Shopping Centre cleaning up after the flash floods ocurred on Saturday morning.​

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Wendy's restaurant at Liat Towers was flooded for the second time in recent months,
after flash floods hit many parts of Singapore early Saturday morning.​

 

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Starbucks and Wendy's restaurant at Liat Towers flooded for the second time in recent months
after flash floods hit many parts of Singapore early Saturday morning.

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The basement of this new strata houses at Gentle Rd is flooded. AsiaOne reader ras told that four cars were submerged in water.
Workers were called in to pump out the water. This picture is taken from Gentle Rd.​

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A car trapped in the flood at Tessarina Condo of Bukit Timah.​

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Three vehicles along Bukit Timah Road are stuck in a half-finished centre divider after flood waters receeded.
Many parts of Singapore were hit by flash floods early Saturday morning.​

 

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Residents of Robin Close, Bukit Timah, checking their car for damages at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning.
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Reader, Jazmine Chua contributed this photo taken at 1130 a.m. on Saturday July 17. The basement of these strata houses at Gentle Road, Novena is flooded. She was told that four cars were submerged in water and workers were called in to pump out the water.
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Residents resort to standing on tops of tables at a coffee shop to keep dry.​

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The shutters of a restaurant along Upper Thomson Road was badly damaged by the flash floods on Saturday morning.
According to eye witnesses, the water pressure was so strong it swept things out of its way and bent the metal shutters.​

 

[lauhumku]

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The rain started at around 4.40 a.m. and stopped more than 2 hours later,
affecting the road surrounding Masjid Darul Aman resulting in flash flood.​

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The rain started at around 4.40 a.m. and stopped more than 2 hours later,
affecting the road surrounding Masjid Darul Aman resulting in flash flood.​

 

[kingrant]

The cop who cuffed him looks like Lui Fuck You. At least a younger version.

The real menace and those causing danger to others are overpaid Ministers and civil servants who hide away when things go wrong. The reporter was doing his job! He was photographing pictures to remind fatcat Ministers and govt servants that so much has to be done but not done.

People who shld be detained without trial are Yacob, Lui, Kan Seng, Mah Bow Tan, Lee Kuan yew, Shanmugam.

 

[SwineHunter]

Why photographer was handcuffed


Aug 16, 2010
Why photographer was handcuffed

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Mr Shamugam said that the Police Officer assessed that it was necessary to use handcuffs to restrain Mr Shafie Goh (above) and stop him from continuing an action which the officer felt posed a danger to others and the photographer himself. -- PHOTO: WANBAO

POLICE handcuffed a photographer taking flood pictures along Bukit Timah Road last month because public safety was involved, said Law Minister and Second Minister for Home Affairs in Parliament on Monday. Mr K. Shanmugam, replying to a question from Marine Parade GRC MP Ong Seh Hong, said the police generally do not interfere with the media or members of the public taking photographs of floods 'so long as it does not obstruct police operations or does not pose a danger to others or themselves.'

Dr Ong had asked the minister on guidelines for the use of handcuffs following an incident which concerned Lianhe Wanbao chief photographer Shafie Goh in Bukit Timah, near Maplewoods Condominium, on July16. In his reply, Mr Shanmugam said it was raining heavily that morning and the rain had caused a road divider, which had been excavated, to be flooded. Ordinarily, the construction work would have been surrounded by safety barriers, but the safety barriers had been washed away due to the flood.

Motorists driving along the road were unable to see the depression, leading three cars to land in the depression. The photographer had stopped his car illegally along the road at about 7.40am to take the photographs, causing an obstruction to other motorists, he told the House. 'There was clear danger not only to the photographer but to other motorists as well,' said Mr Shamugam.

When the photographer ignored a second advice from police against taking pictures on the flooded centre divider, he was handcuffed. He was uncuffed after his identity was verified. The minister also explained that police officers are trained to assess the situation when exercising discretion in using handcuffs. Handcuffs may be used if a suspect is violent or if there is a flight risk, or if a serious offence had been committed.

'In this case, although it was not intended to be an arrest, the Police Officer assessed that it was necessary to use handcuffs to restrain the photographer and stop him from continuing an action which the officer felt posed a danger to others and the photographer himself,' he said. He added that both the police and the media have important roles to play.

While the police respect and understand the role the media has to play, the police have a duty to ensure public safety and security. 'We cannot allow our officers on the ground when performing their duty to ensure public safety and security to have their directions ignored,' he said. However, Mr Shanmugam said in hindsight, both parties could have handled the situation better.