SINGAPORE : The Subordinate Courts have put in extra layers of checks to prevent a repeat of the mistake where a prisoner was given eight strokes of the cane although he was only sentenced to five.

The three extra strokes had come about due to an error by the Court Officer when preparing the documents.

The Court Officer in question has resigned and left the Subordinate Courts.

However, prisons officers verified the number of strokes to be meted out with the prisoner three times before caning.

He raised no objections.

The prisoner was sentenced to 9 months jail and 5 strokes of the cane for abetting an unlicensed moneylender to harass a debtor.

The Government says they are ready and willing to settle the matter through mediation.

In negotiations, the settlement sum escalated from an initial $150,000 to $3 million.

The Government did not accept this final sum.

To tighten processes, the Subordinate Courts will have checklists for Court Officers in preparing documents.

There will also be layers of additional checks. - CNA/ch