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SINGAPORE: An ex-inmate is seeking compensation of at least S$100,000 from the government for the extra strokes of the cane he received while he was in prison.
Dickson Tan was sentenced in February last year to a total of nine months' jail and five strokes of cane for four counts of loan-shark activities.
Tan was given eight strokes of the cane instead of the actual five.
The government acknowledged the error and expressed regret, but at issue then was the amount of compensation Tan should get.
Three rounds of discussions with the Attorney-General's Chambers failed to produce an agreement.
Tan's family indicated before these mediation talks that they would settle if an offer of S$300,000 was made.
So, Tan has taken the case to court.
Tan's lawyer, Mr Joseph Chen, told 938LIVE that they are writing in to ask for a court-based mediation, where a High Court Judge will decide on the issues involving the case.
Additions were also made during a short hearing. The additions relate to the questions and comments raised during Parliament on the case sometime back.
Citing Tan's financial difficulties, Mr Chen said his client hopes this matter will be resolved as soon as possible.
The lawyer said the S$100,000 in compensation asked is based on a medical report that he will be unemployable for about five years.
In the report, Mr Chen explained that Tan currently suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder that can develop into schizophrenia. If the case goes to trial, they will be asking for punitive damages.
The extra strokes he received was due to an error made by the court clerk while transcribing the sentence meted out on to the warrant of commitment.
The warrant is to notify the Prisons Department of the sentence that had been meted out to the prisoner. - 938LIVE.
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