Caning for graffiti artist
Source: Agencies |
June 26, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A SINGAPORE court ordered a Swiss man caned and jailed for five months yesterday for spray-painting graffiti on suburban train carriages, reinforcing the city-state's low tolerance for even minor crimes.
Oliver Fricker, 32, was sentenced to the minimum three strokes from a rattan cane and five months in prison after he admitted breaking into a Singapore train depot last month and spray-painting graphics and the words "McKoy Banos" across two carriages.
He was accompanied at the time by a man identified as Lloyd Dane Alexander, a Briton, according to the prosecution.
Singapore has sought the extradition of Alexander, last believed to be in Hong Kong.
McKoy Banos are the signatures of a duo who enjoy celebrity status in the shadowy world of graffiti artists. It was not immediately known if Fricker, an IT consultant who has been working in Singapore since 2008, and Alexander were the duo or imitators.
"This was calculated criminal conduct, he was fully conscious of the criminal nature of the act and must be prepared to face the consequences," said Judge See Kee Oon.
Fricker listened to the verdict without emotion and was taken away to serve his term. His lawyer Derek Kang said he would appeal.
Singapore outlaws chewing gum and has strict fines for littering. Its vandalism laws became world news in 1994 when American teenager Michael Fay was caned for damaging cars and public property, despite an appeal from then US President Bill Clinton.
Oliver Fricker, 32, was sentenced to the minimum three strokes from a rattan cane and five months in prison after he admitted breaking into a Singapore train depot last month and spray-painting graphics and the words "McKoy Banos" across two carriages.
He was accompanied at the time by a man identified as Lloyd Dane Alexander, a Briton, according to the prosecution.
Singapore has sought the extradition of Alexander, last believed to be in Hong Kong.
McKoy Banos are the signatures of a duo who enjoy celebrity status in the shadowy world of graffiti artists. It was not immediately known if Fricker, an IT consultant who has been working in Singapore since 2008, and Alexander were the duo or imitators.
"This was calculated criminal conduct, he was fully conscious of the criminal nature of the act and must be prepared to face the consequences," said Judge See Kee Oon.
Fricker listened to the verdict without emotion and was taken away to serve his term. His lawyer Derek Kang said he would appeal.
Singapore outlaws chewing gum and has strict fines for littering. Its vandalism laws became world news in 1994 when American teenager Michael Fay was caned for damaging cars and public property, despite an appeal from then US President Bill Clinton.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
