
From 7 Nov 2002 Straits Times:
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/story/0,4386,153351,00.html?
THE legal fraternity was abuzz yesterday with talk about the Chief Justice's use of an obscure legal provision to up a lawyer-basher's jail sentence from six to 10 years.
His action sent many lawyers scrambling for their copies of the Criminal Procedure Code to find the provision - which allows for a convicted man with a criminal record to be jailed for up to 10 years.
Mr Subhas Anandan, who also works at Harry Elias, said: 'I'm confused... everybody's confused. Does that mean that for any offence where the maximum is, say, two years, an offender with a criminal record can be sent to jail for 10 years?'
However, Senior Counsel R. Palakrishnan said he had no doubt the Chief Justice has the power to apply the law. 'The Chief did this because it's an [color=red]exceptional case - an officer of the court was assaulted. He felt that the man deserved more than the maximum.'
But the broader reaction among lawyers was one of shock. Some did not know the provision existed. Others were confused because Louis did not have serious criminal convictions in the past, although he was fined $180 for providing public entertainment without a licence in 1986 and was jailed two weeks for driving under disqualification in 1999.
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I am not an officer of the court !
So anyone with a previous criminal record who attacks me will get
7 instead of 10 years lah?!