Singaporeans stand up for man who was jailed for sleeping at East Coast Park pavilion - Singapore News

SINGAPORE: Singaporeans online are standing up for a man who was sentenced to four days’ jail after he was caught by the authorities sleeping in a pavilion at East Coast Park.

Inspectors noticed that he occupied the pavilion from 3am to 6am and that it appeared he had “set up home” in the area, putting up an inflatable mattress, folding table and chairs, mug, cooler box, and fishing gear within the pavilion. Throughout the court proceedings, Zeng provided no explanation for his actions and did not offer any mitigation. However, during a previous hearing on 17 May, he claimed to be unaware that a permit was required to sleep in the park.The majority of netizens on online forums like HardWareZone, Reddit and Telegram chatgroups have posited that Zeng is clearly homeless and that he should have received aid instead of punishment.

They added, “I felt like our country is so uncompassionate and sending all these poor people to jail or slap fine on the just because they can’t and don’t have the resources to contest the charge given. These people really don’t deserve this.” u/annoyingrandomperson said: “So instead of helping the homeless person, they gave him a fine that he couldn’t pay, then they jailed him. Wow.”

Activists, however, have argued that the government’s stance does not accurately reflect the reality on the ground and the authorities punish homeless individuals and families caught sleeping in the public instead of helping them.

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Singaporeans with dementia find their groove at silent discoSINGAPORE — Under flashing disco lights, residents at a Singapore care home held hands and danced to golden oldies as part of an initiative to help those with dementia.
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

Hawker stall charges $2.60 for empty bowl, shocking Singaporeans - Singapore NewsWhen the customer asked for an empty bowl from the dessert stall, he was surprised to be informed that he had to pay $2.60 for it.
Source: IndependentSG - 🏆 9. / 63 Read more »

No Singaporeans involved in India's deadliest train crash in decades: MFA - Singapore NewsThe crash, which is India's worst train collision in decades, took place on Friday (2 June). Two passenger trains and one freight train collided near the city of Balasore, in the state of Odisha.
Source: IndependentSG - 🏆 2. / 72 Read more »

Singaporeans flock to Tuas at 7am to board new MRT trainSINGAPORE — As an Alstom Movia R151 train rolled into Tuas Link station, its operator sounded a horn, eliciting cheers from more than 100 people gathered to welcome it into service. 'Open, open, open,' they chanted at about 7.10am on Sunday (June 4) as the first of 106 seventh-generation trains to be launched on the North-South and East-West lines (NSEWL)...
Source: asiaonecom - 🏆 10. / 59 Read more »

Rain in Canada's east aids mass firefighting effortBut the situation in Quebec remains critical. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: STForeignDesk - 🏆 4. / 71 Read more »

Car drives off with cyclist on bonnet after alleged altercation in Katong, 2 women assisting in police probeSINGAPORE — A cyclist was caught on camera jumping onto the bonnet of a car following an alleged altercation with the driver along East Coast Road on Friday (June 2).
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »