TELEVISION viewers know him as Phua Chu Kang's nephew, Aloy. But actor Marcus Ng Yi Loong was at the heart of a real-life courtroom drama yesterday.A full-time National Serviceman, Ng was appealing against a subordinate military court ruling, after he had been convicted on two charges of insubordinate behaviour and conduct to the prejudice of good discipline.
On Feb 28 last year, Ng's superior at Nee Soon Camp's SAF Medical Training Institute called Ng and another serviceman into a room to address them about an earlier incident.
After reprimanding the other serviceman, Second Warrant Officer Saraswathi told Ng, who had asked, "Why me?", not to question her orders.
Ng became angry and accused 2WO Saraswathi of picking on him.
Both raised their voices.
Afterwards, Ng confronted her outside the room and their two-minute exchange drew the attention of Master Warrant Officer Ger Ah Kee.
Seeking to defuse the situation, MWO Ger put his hand on Ng's shoulder.
Ng rudely shrugged MWO Ger's hand off by moving his shoulder aggressively.
Later, Ng was sentenced to seven days' detention on each of the two charges, with the sentences to run concurrently.
The 22-year-old appealed to the Military Court of Appeal, making the case that the Court Martial judge, in convicting him, had erred in law and in fact.
Ng's lawyer Wendell Wong said there were conflicting accounts from eyewitnesses, and called the sentence "manifestly excessive" and "crushing for a young serviceman", while citing other cases where servicemen were given fines, a reprimand or letter of warning for seemingly more serious offences.
In response, Singapore Armed Forces prosecutor Luke Tan argued that the Court Martial's finding of guilt was based "on sound and established legal principles".
The five-member panel of the Military Court of Appeal, chaired by High Court Judge Justice Choo Han Teck, agreed.
They dismissed Ng's appeal against his conviction and sentence on the charge of insubordination, even as they reduced Ng's sentence on the second charge to a reprimand.
This means Ng still has to serve seven days' detention.
This was not Ng's first brush with military law. Last October, he was convicted and fined $1,000 for two other offences of disobedience and non-compliance. Lawyers were also hired for him at the time.
Ng's mother, Mdm Florence Tan, told reporters she has spent $80,000 on legal fees.
She gave her son a hug before he was led away to begin his detention.
Article extracted from here and related articles here.
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