Point of Law: Singaporean Man Probed for Sticking Toothpicks in Bus Seat

New Straits Times ^ | August 9, 2017

[nickcarraway]

A 60-year-old Singaporean could be jailed for up to two years if found guilty of sticking toothpicks into a bus seat in a suspected case of "mischief", police said.

Singapore, whose crime rates are among the world's lowest, has tough laws for minor offences such as vandalism, which can be punished with caning. The import and sale of chewing gum is banned except for medical reasons.Police launched an investigation after a bus company in the city-state reported last week that one of their vehicles' passenger seats was perforated with toothpicks.

"Through extensive ground enquiries and with the assistance of CCTV footages, officers...established the identity of the suspect," they said in a statement on Tuesday. A Facebook user posted pictures at the end of last month of three toothpicks sticking out of a bus seat, with the post shared more than 2,500 times.

[x1stcav]

I don’t think it was the perp who was probed.

(That was such a cheap shot I’m embarrassed)

[Red Badger]

Some people are sickos....................

[MrEdd]

I’m glad you said that so I didn’t have to.

[GunsareOK]

....vandalism, which can be punished with caning......

I would like to see the same here although I realize it’s contrary to the 8th Amendment.

[GunsareOK]

From the article—

.....In 2015 two young German men were sentenced to nine months in prison and three strokes of the cane for spray-painting a metro train....

If we did the same there would be a whole lot less of this type of thing.

[Still Thinking]

Point of Law: Singaporean Man Probed for Sticking Toothpicks in Bus Seat

Well, at least sounds like the punishment fits the crime!

[Gay State Conservative]

Been to Singapore several times.A clean,well ordered city that has more laws,rules and regulations than you can shake a stick at.On my first trip there the cab driver who picked me up at the airport must have thought that I was a Westerner looking for a bit of “fun” because he warned me that under Singapore law if a woman complained to the police about me having insulted her honor or embarrassed her I could wind up doing prison time.He didn't mention the name of the law but IIRC he said that it had just recently been enacted.

[robroys woman]

Singapore does not mess around with this sort of stuff. The rule of law reigns supreme.

The city/state reminds me of that STNG episode where, while visiting a spectacularly beautiful planet, Wesley accidentally trips in a garden and accidentally smashes a plant.

They find out why everybody there is so law-abiding. The penalty for his action is death.

Singapore has not crossed that particular line, but you commit even minor infractions at your peril.

[robroys woman]

If I'm gonna spit your gum on the sidewalk in Singapore, I always wear these:

[Oratam]

The crime is reported in the paper as "outraging the modesty" of a women.

The perp is always an ethnic Malay.

[SteveH]

This situation requires penetrating analysis.

[dfwgator]

....vandalism, which can be punished with caning...... I would like to see the same here although I realize it’s contrary to the 8th Amendment.

I wish they'd do it to anyone caught spray-painting graffiti.

[dfwgator]

[dfwgator]

The noose is a nice touch.

[freedomlover]

Interesting that that display appears in fact to be a protest against the penalties. IMHO

[blueunicorn6]

“Singapore Sling”

The name of a drink.

Also what you get your behind into if you put toothpicks in the seat of one of their buses.

[dfwgator]

Hmmmm, I never saw it that way before, but you just might be right.

[Bob]

Guilt isn’t being determined by the calculations; the punishment is.

[Gay State Conservative]

Yup,on my first visit there I saw a sign like that...much smaller and more “official” looking but it still got my attention.It got my attention so strongly that I was worried about the over-the-counter allergy medicine I had.