Whose fault? PRC on social visit pass acquitted of robbery charge

http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/10/28/prc-national-on-social-visit-pass-acquitted-of-robbery-charge/

Whose fault? PRC on social visit pass acquitted of robbery charge
October 28, 2009 by admin
From our Correspondent

PRC national Zhou Sunfu who was charged last week for trying to rob a cabby was cleared afther the charge was dropped. He arrived in Singapore on a social visit pass.

The cabby, 61-year-old Robert Lee Khee Choon was warded in hospital after his taxi crashed into a pillar in front of a shophouse.

Zhou was given a discharge amounting to an acquittal on the application of the prosecution. No reasons were given for the discharge.

There were few other details in the report carried by the state media. Neither was the cabby interviewed to find out what exactly happened.

Did Zhou attempt to rob Mr Robert Lee at all? Or was he acquitted due to lack of concrete evidence?

If Zhou had never tried to rob Mr Robert Lee, then the latter must have made a false police report and should be charged in court. However, there was no mention of it.

There must be prima facie evidence to charge Zhou in court in the first place. What did the police investigations reveal?

The abrupt acquittal of Zhou seemed to give the impression that there were lapses somewhere along the chain of investigation. Did the police or prosecution miss out anything?

It is ironical that a PRC suspected of committing a crime in Singapore is given an unconditional discharge by the prosecution while Singapore citizens acquitted of wrong-doing by the court were not so lucky.

Two weeks ago, 5 Singaporeans are acquitted on charges of “illegal procession” for walking in a group from one point to another in public. (read more here)

The Attorney-General Chambers has since filed an appeal against their acquittal and sought to convict them for a “crime” which amounts to a maximum fine of $1,000.