I've heard all about this probation thing being a way of rehabilitating minor offenders aged 16-18, as putting them in prison may not be the best option - the fear being one might end up being worse off than when they went in.
"Lawyers whom The Sunday Times spoke to said probation has always existed as a sentencing option, especially when dealing with juvenile offenders who may otherwise be sent to a corrective institution or prison."
-www.straitstimes.com
And so I'm confused. If probation is a sentencing option, as The Straits Times says, then doesn't it stand to reason that one has to be first convicted of something before being sentenced? So Ris Low WAS convicted of credit card fraud right? And her sentence was probation right? So how is it that the headlines read "Probation Order Not Conviction"? Me No Understand. I get it that being under probation means the person does not necessarily have a "criminal record" to tarnish their reputation. But surely we're confusing the term criminal record with conviction?
It's simple. She did something reeeeal bad. She got caught. She was charged and convicted. And finally sentenced to probation. Still kena caught, still kena convicted, still kena sentenced. Right? Right. Whether or not it leaves a stain on her personal record is NOT what fellow Singaporeans are concerned about. Pretending the probation is NOT a conviction is just rubbish. What is this country coming to?
HMMM, I know little (nothing) about Singapore court system and laws, but...color me confused. Seems like a clear-cut deal... convicted = sentenced so sentenced = convicted...right??
ReplyDeleteThat's what I'm saying. I don't understand why everyone's going all over the place trying to prove that a probation sentence is NOT a conviction. Well, it's not. She was ALREADY convicted. Duh!
ReplyDeleteIt's all PR Spin tactics, making it seem like it is not as bad as it really is. Sad but hey who paid the piper?
ReplyDeleteGrowly Bear
GrowlyBear - if it's a PR tactic then they seriously #FAIL
ReplyDeleteIt's "clever" wordplay that will fool a lot of Singaporeans.
ReplyDelete"Convicted" - OMG this person is a criminal!
"Probation" - Oh they got caught but it's a warning.
People here base their opinions on buzzwords and catchphrases, and don't even know what the buzzwords and catchphrases mean.