Friday, February 28, 2014

Feb 28th 2014

Feb 28th 2014? What is so special about this day?

Actually nothing special. 2014 is not a leap year since it is not be divided by 4. This means, 2014 divide by 4 will have a reminder. Thus, there is no Feb 29th. There is also no Feb 29th in 2015. 

But in 2016, it is a leap year since 2016 is can be divided by 4 without any remainders  

Feb 28, means that today is the last day of the month. 6 months already passed.... Dad had gone to a better place since then.

For me, there are always new stuff to learn, to explore and to try out. There are always opportunities!

Looking forward, there are always opportunities to learn new stuff!

- wong chee tat :) 

Om Mani Padme Hum

Om Mani Padme Hum

- wong chee tat :)

Ex-law prof Tey Tsun Hang cleared of corruption by High Court

Ex-law prof Tey Tsun Hang cleared of corruption by High Court

Former professor Tey Tsun Hang exits Selarang Park Community Supervision Centre on a hired cab after having his electronic tag removed on Oct 5, 2013. High Court Justice Woo Bih Li also questioned why Mr Tey told Ms Darinne Ko he had no money to pay for the abortion in 2010 when he was working for NUS.

Selina Lum

The Straits Times, AFP
Friday, Feb 28, 2014

But even as he cleared Mr Tey of criminal wrongdoing, Justice Woo Bih Li had strong words for the ex-professor, saying that he was "a man without honour".

Sex-for-grades case takes a surprising turn

The high-profile sex-for-grades case involving former National University of Singapore (NUS) law professor Tey Tsun Hang and his ex-student Darinne Ko took a surprising turn on Friday when the High Court acquitted him of corruption, after he had served a five-month jail term.

Singapore High Court overturns sex-for-favours conviction

AFP - Singapore's High Court has overturned the conviction of a law professor jailed for obtaining sexual favours and gifts from a female student in exchange for better grades, his lawyer said Friday.

Former National University of Singapore (NUS) law professor Tey Tsun Hang, 42, served a five-month sentence last year after he was found guilty by a district court of six charges of corruption over his relationship with his then-student Darinne Ko in 2010.

The district court ruled that he had "exploited" the female student by obtaining sexual favours from her and also receiving gifts that included tailored shirts and a limited-edition pen.

But Tey's lawyer Peter Low said Friday that High Court Justice Woo Bih Li "allowed an appeal and overturned the conviction", five months after he completed his prison sentence.

"The crux of it is that the court found that it takes two hands to clap even though he exploited her and that she was in love with him," Low told AFP.

"I am glad that Professor Tey has been vindicated by a court of law and acquitted of all six corruption charges," he said.

The NUS, which announced last year that it had terminated Tey's employment after his conviction, did not immediately comment on the ruling. In handing down the sentence last year, Chief District Judge Tan Siong Thye said Tey "abused his position and power" while in the relationship with Ko and chastised him for his "ulterior motives and corrupt intention".

The court had heard during the trial that Ko got pregnant during their affair and paid for her own abortion.

It is the second high-profile corruption case to be overturned in Singapore in the past year.

Ng Boon Gay, a former head of Singapore's narcotics police, was cleared of corruption in February 2013 after a court rejected charges that he demanded oral sex from a female contractor to help her win government deals.






- wong chee tat :)

Prevailing northeasterly winds will keep haze away from S'pore: NEA

Prevailing northeasterly winds will keep haze away from S'pore: NEA

POSTED: 27 Feb 2014 20:19

SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) has said the prevailing northeasterly winds will keep the haze from Sumatra away from Singapore for the next two to three days.

But it said Singapore may experience "occasional slight haze".

This is due to the accumulation of particulate matter under stable atmospheric conditions, particularly in the morning.

NEA said a total of 62 hotspots were detected in Sumatra on Thursday.

And smoke plumes and haze were visible in Riau province.

Channel NewsAsia received some complaints of a strong 'smoke smell' lingering in the air.

On Monday, NEA said the current dry weather conditions have led to a number of vegetation fires in Singapore over the past weeks.

These fires could possibly have contributed to the burning smell detected in some areas.

NEA said fair and warm conditions are expected for the next few days.

The NEA will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.

For updates, visit NEA website, the haze microsite, or NEA Facebook and NEA Twitter Page.

- CNA/de

- wong chee tat :)










Former professor in sex-for-grades case wins appeal against conviction

Former professor in sex-for-grades case wins appeal against conviction

By Leong Wai Kit
POSTED: 28 Feb 2014 11:09
UPDATED: 28 Feb 2014 21:07

SINGAPORE: The former National University of Singapore (NUS) professor involved in the sex-for-grades case has won his appeal against his conviction and sentence.

Tey Tsun Hang was found guilty in May last year by a district court of corruption charges.

The High Court ruled that his former student, Darinne Ko, did not give him presents or have sex with him to get better grades.

Justice Woo Bih Li said the trial judge had wrongly equated conduct which is morally reprehensible with conduct which is legally wrong.

A fine of S$514.80, which Tey was ordered to pay, will also be refunded to him.

The money is equivalent to the value of two tailored shirts and part of the cost of a dinner.

But Tey has already served his five-month jail sentence, meted out to him in May.

Peter Cuthbert Low, Tey’s lawyer, said: "I don't think he'll get any compensation because the judge made it very clear that he elected to go into prison pending the outcome of his appeal.

“He also applied for the hearing to take place after he served sentence. So although he's been acquitted of all six charges, he can't sue the authorities for compensation for having served the sentence.”

But Justice Woo said his decision vindicates Tey of the charges only.

The court does not condone the way Tey abused his position and exploited Ms Ko.

Justice Woo added Tey took advantage of her to satisfy his greed and his lust.

He also said Tey was a man without honour.

When asked, an NUS spokesperson said Tey may choose to petition to return to the university.

If he does so, the university will call for a committee of inquiry to determine if Tey is guilty of any misconduct and if so, what sanctions are warranted.

The Attorney General's Chambers said the prosecution will study the full written grounds of the High Court before deciding whether any further action is necessary.

- CNA/nd/xq

- wong chee tat :)

1.23m taxpayers need not file taxes

1.23m taxpayers need not file taxes

POSTED: 28 Feb 2014 16:43

SINGAPORE: More taxpayers, including 15,000 who will be filing for the first time, will benefit from the no-filing service this year, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) said.

The tax filing season begins on Saturday, but for 1.23 million, or 60 per cent of all taxpayers, it will be a non-event.

The IRAS said the no-filing service has grown significantly over the years to benefit 27 times as many taxpayers this year, as compared to when it was first launched in 2007.

Taxpayers who have been informed of their eligibility for the service this year will not need to file a tax return, unless they have additional income to declare or changes to make to their personal reliefs.

- CNA/xq

- wong chee tat :)

8 in 10 fresh graduates get full-time job within 6 months

8 in 10 fresh graduates get full-time job within 6 months

By John Leong
POSTED: 28 Feb 2014 18:30

SINGAPORE: About eight in 10 graduates from the three autonomous universities in Singapore found a full-time job within six months.

This was slightly fewer than in 2012.

It was one of the findings of a poll of some 10,500 graduates who were in the market for a job.

The survey was conducted by the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the Singapore Management University (SMU).

Fresh graduates with engineering or accountancy-related qualifications were particularly in demand across the board, while others included business, nursing, and maritime studies.

Meanwhile, the average gross monthly salary among those in full-time jobs was about S$3,200.

The median gross monthly salary was about S$3,000.

This was comparable to what they received in 2012.

SMU graduates generally led the way, with average starting salaries hitting nearly S$3,500.

Among graduates from courses requiring practical training, nearly 98 per cent found full-time employment last year.

These were in areas such as law, medicine and architecture.

On average, they earned a monthly starting salary of about S$4,600, nearly S$100 more than in 2012.

- CNA/xq

- wong chee tat :)

Om Mani Padme Hum

Om Mani Padme Hum

- wong chee tat :)