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1. The most frustrating thing re reading about these VIPs openly flouting the MCO rules is that they’re seen as being accorded more compassion than those who may need it most.
2. And honestly, instead of VIPs being treated w/ the same severity as everyone else, I feel it should be the other way around. The same hesitance to charge given to VIPs for the purpose of conducting a thorough investigation ought to be accorded to all.
3. We need only compare the speed with which ordinary citizens are charged in Court with the number of VIP cases still under investigation w/ no remand request whatsoever (up until today). Are they not the same type of offence?
4. If VIPs are accorded sufficient time to prove that they had a valid reason to be out, or even if not, that so little risk was involved (e.g., social distancing measures were adopted) there is no public interest in charging, everyone should be provided that opportunity.
5. To be given access to lawyers, to be given time to provide evidence in their favour. When such severe consequences to life and liberty are at stake, why are these measures afforded only to an elite class? The value of our lives are the SAME, and ought to be treated as such.
6. Plus, why are only these VIPs allowed to attend statement-taking sessions as required, yet others are detained on remand for the same purpose? S. 111 of the CPC gives police the power to require anyone to appear to give info, and failure to comply may result in arrest.
7. Meaning, police can investigate a suspect and legally require him to provide information whilst still allowing said suspect to stay home. Where is the risk of tampering with witnesses or evidence for these types of offences? Virtually zero.
8. The witnesses are usually police officers at road blocks, and the evidence required by the Prosecution is the mere fact of them being out without a valid reason. You cannot destroy evidence of the absence of a valid reason.
9. Point is, the cases with these VIPs clearly show it’s possible to investigate these types of offences w/out subjecting a person to remand. Apply it universally, unless there are reasonable grounds for believing this can’t be achieved.
8. It shouldn’t be the general rule to apply for remand regardless of whether it’s the only way to further investigations. Remand should only be requested if there is NO OTHER WAY to do so. And it’s the State’s burden to demonstrate that, by law.
9. Anyone who thinks a few days of remand can be taken light-heartedly, I urge you to consider what that may be like for you to undergo for just ONE day. Knowing in your heart none of it was ever necessary. That your cooperation could’ve been begotten another way.
10. I guarantee that that experience is traumatic, whether you are innocent or not. We as a society should scrutinise even momentary restraints on liberty that are unnecessary, what more those involving days or weeks.
11. My greatest fear in all of this is not that we will be too lenient on alleged perpetrators, but rather that our call for blood tightens the noose around the neck of all those subjected to the criminal justice system.
12. I truly believe we’ll do better going forward as a society when our love for all sentient beings are equally applied with compassion and understanding than when we are collectively ruled by arbitrariness and hate.
