7 in 10 NTU graduates secured jobs before graduation: Survey
By Loh Chuan Junn, Channel NewsAsia Posted 25 Jul 2016 16:11 Updated 25 Jul 2016 18:36
SINGAPORE: Seven in 10 students from Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) graduating class of 2016 have secured jobs before graduation, according to a preliminary survey of more than 5,000 graduates conducted by the university in June.
The projected numbers are on par with those who graduated last year and higher than the cohort the year before, where about two in three landed a job before graduation.
One engineering graduate from the 2016 cohort, Mr A Saravanan received five job offers and currently works as a software engineering analyst at Accenture.
He said: "NTU has equipped me with a broad-based education, which has enabled me to approach projects with wider and better understanding. Another valuable experience was my internship at the US Air Force Academy, where I worked alongside cadets from the United States, France and Canada on programming tasks."
NTU also stated in a media release on Monday (Jul 25) that many of its students benefited from internships. Around 11 percent of those surveyed have been employed by their internship companies, and almost 18 per cent received job offers from where they interned.
More than 9,100 students will receive their Bachelor's and higher degrees across 18 convocation ceremonies from Monday till Aug 2.
The first ceremony saw the pioneer batch of graduates from three programmes - the Renaissance Engineering Programme (REP), the University Scholars Programme (USP) and the History Programme - receive their degrees. Dr Wee Cho Yaw, UOB Chairman Emeritus presided over the ceremony. Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung was also present.
The ceremony also saw NTU confer the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering on Professor Sir David Payne from University of Southampton, in recognition for his significant contributions to the field of telecommunications.
Renowned Singaporean master potter and ceramicist Iskandar Jalil was also conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters for his accomplishments in pottery and his service in education.
- CNA/am
- wong chee tat :)
Showing posts with label uni. Show all posts
Showing posts with label uni. Show all posts
Monday, July 25, 2016
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Hong Kong graduates face declining job prospects, salaries
Hong Kong graduates face declining job prospects, salaries
By Wei Du Posted 24 Jul 2016 17:00 Updated 24 Jul 2016 17:41
HONG KONG: With only a few weeks left on campus, Ms Chloe Hui looked visibly worried.
Clutching a handful of resumes, she went booth to booth at a job fair, talking to any interviewer who would give her a few minutes.
The English major at the Chinese University of Hong Kong has been applying for jobs since December. She has managed to get some interviews, but not a single offer just yet.
“It's much more difficult than I thought,” she told Channel NewsAsia.
Like many graduates in Hong Kong, Ms Hui is the first person in her family to go to university. That used to be a great source of pride for her parents, but now she has been forced to pare back expectations and look for jobs that do not necessarily require a higher degree.
“Like for HR assistants, they don't really need university graduates but I am still applying for it,” she said. “I don't have many choices I think.”
For some others, any permanent job would be good. Mr Benjamin Lam graduated from the prestigious Hong Kong University three years ago with a degree in Risk Management, but has been doing a series of odd jobs ever since.
“Sometimes I feel discouraged,” Mr Lam said. “I think I can support myself, but I can't see any good prospect for a luxury life.”
He is hardly alone. According to one study by the New Forum, graduates’ medium starting salary in Hong Kong declined 20 per cent between 1993 and 2013 when inflation is taken into account. If they want to buy an apartment, the picture is even more dire. When adjusted for the city’s soaring housing prices, graduates’ now make 60 per cent lower than those 20 years ago.
“I feel bad for the young people these days,” said Mr Edward Chen, a Council member at Hong Kong University. “In the old days it's a straight forward path. If you were a university graduate, you were guaranteed a place in the middle class. But today, no.”
DIMMING ECONOMIC PROSPECTS
A series of social unrests have rocked Hong Kong in recent years. The peaceful Umbrella Movement in 2014, led by university students, shut down the city center for months. Earlier in 2016, a riot broke out in Mongkok. Largely young protestors set cars on fire and hurled bricks at police.
The events have often been linked to Hong Kong’s lack of progress towards democracy, but educators like Mr Chen say dimming economic prospects for the city's youths may also be a key reason.
"We have a large group of frustrated young people, university graduates many of them. It's very easy to persuade them that society is not doing justice to them, and to some extent it might be true."
To be sure, Hong Kong youths are not alone in feeling a sense of hopelessness. Economic stagnation has plagued developed economies around the world. But in Hong Kong, their problems were made worse by what some experts call misguided government policy.
After the Dotcom crash in 2001, Hong Kong’s economy was again hit by the SARS outbreak in 2003. The city’s unemployment rate roared past 8 per cent, putting enormous pressure on the government of Tung Chee-Hwa, the city’s first Chief Executive.
To slow the pace of young people entering the workforce, the government boosted university enrolment rate from 20 per cent to 60 per cent. But unlike a previous round of expansion, the additional slots did not come from the established, taxpayer-funded universities. Instead, a crop of new private schools filled the gap.
Without government funding and unable to charge higher tuitions, Mr Chen said these universities have not been able to match the quality of the city’s eight publicly-funded schools.
“First there are just too many university graduates. Secondly, a large number of the students cannot meet employers’ expectations.”
LOOK BEYOND HONG KONG?
At the same time, skilled jobs started moving across the border. Even in Hong Kong, many multinationals began hiring mainland Chinese graduates, because they speak better Mandarin and have more in common with mainland clients.
Facing a new reality, some people say Hong Kong’s youths need to look beyond the city in their job hunts.
Mr Paul Mak, President of Hong Kong Shanghai Youth Association, has been trying to get local graduates to work in Shanghai, but that has not proved easy.
“A lot of Hong Kong young people don't consider that especially when it's their first jobs,” he said.
Salaries are usually the first barrier. The starting pay in mainland China is still lower, although Mr Mak said promotions happen faster there, so the pay would eventually catch up.
That said, the cost of relocation is hefty, and Hong Kong graduates would have to rent a place to stay in Shanghai while they can live with their parents in Hong Kong. That means the option is often only available to graduates from wealthy families.
- CNA/sk
- wong chee tat :)
By Wei Du Posted 24 Jul 2016 17:00 Updated 24 Jul 2016 17:41
HONG KONG: With only a few weeks left on campus, Ms Chloe Hui looked visibly worried.
Clutching a handful of resumes, she went booth to booth at a job fair, talking to any interviewer who would give her a few minutes.
The English major at the Chinese University of Hong Kong has been applying for jobs since December. She has managed to get some interviews, but not a single offer just yet.
“It's much more difficult than I thought,” she told Channel NewsAsia.
Like many graduates in Hong Kong, Ms Hui is the first person in her family to go to university. That used to be a great source of pride for her parents, but now she has been forced to pare back expectations and look for jobs that do not necessarily require a higher degree.
“Like for HR assistants, they don't really need university graduates but I am still applying for it,” she said. “I don't have many choices I think.”
For some others, any permanent job would be good. Mr Benjamin Lam graduated from the prestigious Hong Kong University three years ago with a degree in Risk Management, but has been doing a series of odd jobs ever since.
“Sometimes I feel discouraged,” Mr Lam said. “I think I can support myself, but I can't see any good prospect for a luxury life.”
He is hardly alone. According to one study by the New Forum, graduates’ medium starting salary in Hong Kong declined 20 per cent between 1993 and 2013 when inflation is taken into account. If they want to buy an apartment, the picture is even more dire. When adjusted for the city’s soaring housing prices, graduates’ now make 60 per cent lower than those 20 years ago.
“I feel bad for the young people these days,” said Mr Edward Chen, a Council member at Hong Kong University. “In the old days it's a straight forward path. If you were a university graduate, you were guaranteed a place in the middle class. But today, no.”
DIMMING ECONOMIC PROSPECTS
A series of social unrests have rocked Hong Kong in recent years. The peaceful Umbrella Movement in 2014, led by university students, shut down the city center for months. Earlier in 2016, a riot broke out in Mongkok. Largely young protestors set cars on fire and hurled bricks at police.
The events have often been linked to Hong Kong’s lack of progress towards democracy, but educators like Mr Chen say dimming economic prospects for the city's youths may also be a key reason.
"We have a large group of frustrated young people, university graduates many of them. It's very easy to persuade them that society is not doing justice to them, and to some extent it might be true."
To be sure, Hong Kong youths are not alone in feeling a sense of hopelessness. Economic stagnation has plagued developed economies around the world. But in Hong Kong, their problems were made worse by what some experts call misguided government policy.
After the Dotcom crash in 2001, Hong Kong’s economy was again hit by the SARS outbreak in 2003. The city’s unemployment rate roared past 8 per cent, putting enormous pressure on the government of Tung Chee-Hwa, the city’s first Chief Executive.
To slow the pace of young people entering the workforce, the government boosted university enrolment rate from 20 per cent to 60 per cent. But unlike a previous round of expansion, the additional slots did not come from the established, taxpayer-funded universities. Instead, a crop of new private schools filled the gap.
Without government funding and unable to charge higher tuitions, Mr Chen said these universities have not been able to match the quality of the city’s eight publicly-funded schools.
“First there are just too many university graduates. Secondly, a large number of the students cannot meet employers’ expectations.”
LOOK BEYOND HONG KONG?
At the same time, skilled jobs started moving across the border. Even in Hong Kong, many multinationals began hiring mainland Chinese graduates, because they speak better Mandarin and have more in common with mainland clients.
Facing a new reality, some people say Hong Kong’s youths need to look beyond the city in their job hunts.
Mr Paul Mak, President of Hong Kong Shanghai Youth Association, has been trying to get local graduates to work in Shanghai, but that has not proved easy.
“A lot of Hong Kong young people don't consider that especially when it's their first jobs,” he said.
Salaries are usually the first barrier. The starting pay in mainland China is still lower, although Mr Mak said promotions happen faster there, so the pay would eventually catch up.
That said, the cost of relocation is hefty, and Hong Kong graduates would have to rent a place to stay in Shanghai while they can live with their parents in Hong Kong. That means the option is often only available to graduates from wealthy families.
- CNA/sk
- wong chee tat :)
Monday, October 28, 2013
Singapore to hold first regional education expo in November
Singapore to hold first regional education expo in November
Published on Oct 28, 2013
9:13 PM
By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh
Singapore will hold the first AsiaEducationExpo 2013 (AEX2013), which will showcase the latest education technologies and methodologies, and allow educators and policymakers from the region to network and exchange ideas.
The expo will be held from Nov 20 to 22 at the Singapore Expo Hall 2, in collaboration with Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation Regional Language Centre.
Sphere Exhibits - the events, roadshows and exhibitions arm of Singapore Press Holdings - announced the event on Monday.
The expo will showcase new ways of instruction and best practices that encourage and motivate learning. It will also highlight new and emerging offerings from educational and instructional technology providers, such as alternative platforms that can be used for learning, among other things.
- wong chee tat :)
Published on Oct 28, 2013
9:13 PM
By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh
Singapore will hold the first AsiaEducationExpo 2013 (AEX2013), which will showcase the latest education technologies and methodologies, and allow educators and policymakers from the region to network and exchange ideas.
The expo will be held from Nov 20 to 22 at the Singapore Expo Hall 2, in collaboration with Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation Regional Language Centre.
Sphere Exhibits - the events, roadshows and exhibitions arm of Singapore Press Holdings - announced the event on Monday.
The expo will showcase new ways of instruction and best practices that encourage and motivate learning. It will also highlight new and emerging offerings from educational and instructional technology providers, such as alternative platforms that can be used for learning, among other things.
- wong chee tat :)
Friday, July 19, 2013
性爱博客陈杰毅李美玲 被控三项罪名
性爱博客陈杰毅李美玲 被控三项罪名
性爱博客陈杰毅（25岁）Alvin Tan 和李美玲（24岁）Vivian Lee 因肉骨茶和性视频风波，昨天（18日）在马国法庭被控三项罪名。
马来西亚籍的前新加坡国立大学法律系学生陈杰毅和女友李美玲，去年在博客公开性爱照与视频，引起各界哗然。
上周四在回教徒的斋戒月期间，两人再度成为头条人物。他们在facebook上载一张破斋时吃肉骨茶的照片，以马来语祝马来同胞斋戒月快乐“Selamat Berbuka Puasa” ，还放了个“清真“的标签。
两人的行为立刻引起公愤，指他们在侮辱回教徒。
自从发生肉骨茶风波后，他们的facebook已关闭，并在Youtube上载视频道歉。
根据马国媒体报道，昨天下午2时左右，两人在法庭面对三项控状，包括触犯2002年电检法令、1948年煽动法令，和触犯刑事法典第298A（1）条文的交替控状。两人否认控罪，不获保释，还押监狱，案件定在8月23日过堂。
若触犯煽动法令，他们将被判入狱三年。其他有关制作色情刊物的罪名，最高惩罚将是入狱5年。
马来西亚前首相马哈迪日前 （16日）说，两人必须就他们不负责任的行为面对严重的惩罚。
他说，”说一些引起公愤的话可能会引来仇恨。这些人没有常识，孺子不可教也。“
陈杰毅曾是新加坡国立大学亚细安奖学金的得主，去年因性爱照与视频已遭大学的纪律处分，最后停学和被取消奖学金。
让我们来重温案件的发展经过。
- wong chee tat :)
性爱博客陈杰毅（25岁）Alvin Tan 和李美玲（24岁）Vivian Lee 因肉骨茶和性视频风波，昨天（18日）在马国法庭被控三项罪名。
马来西亚籍的前新加坡国立大学法律系学生陈杰毅和女友李美玲，去年在博客公开性爱照与视频，引起各界哗然。
上周四在回教徒的斋戒月期间，两人再度成为头条人物。他们在facebook上载一张破斋时吃肉骨茶的照片，以马来语祝马来同胞斋戒月快乐“Selamat Berbuka Puasa” ，还放了个“清真“的标签。
两人的行为立刻引起公愤，指他们在侮辱回教徒。
自从发生肉骨茶风波后，他们的facebook已关闭，并在Youtube上载视频道歉。
根据马国媒体报道，昨天下午2时左右，两人在法庭面对三项控状，包括触犯2002年电检法令、1948年煽动法令，和触犯刑事法典第298A（1）条文的交替控状。两人否认控罪，不获保释，还押监狱，案件定在8月23日过堂。
若触犯煽动法令，他们将被判入狱三年。其他有关制作色情刊物的罪名，最高惩罚将是入狱5年。
马来西亚前首相马哈迪日前 （16日）说，两人必须就他们不负责任的行为面对严重的惩罚。
他说，”说一些引起公愤的话可能会引来仇恨。这些人没有常识，孺子不可教也。“
陈杰毅曾是新加坡国立大学亚细安奖学金的得主，去年因性爱照与视频已遭大学的纪律处分，最后停学和被取消奖学金。
让我们来重温案件的发展经过。
- wong chee tat :)
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Sex bloggers plead not guilty to sedition charge
Sex bloggers plead not guilty to sedition charge
POSTED: 18 Jul 2013 4:36 PM
Malaysia's infamous sex blogging couple on Thursday pleaded not guilty in the district court for posting insensitive Ramadan comments on their Facebook page and pornographic pictures in their blogs.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's infamous sex blogging couple on Thursday pleaded not guilty in the district court in Kuala Lumpur to three charges related to their action in posting their insensitive Ramadan greeting on their Facebook page and pornographic pictures in their blogs.
The charges against Alvin Tan Jye Yee, 25, and Vivian Lee May Ling, 24, were read before Judge Murtazadi Amran.
The couple were denied bail and will be jailed pending trial, said a court official. The next court date has been set for August 23.
Sedition is punishable by up to three years in jail.
In the first charge, they were jointly accused of making a seditious posting on their Facebook page by uploading a photo of themselves eating bak kut teh (a Chinese herbal pork soup) with a caption "Selamat Berbuka Puasa" - a Malay greeting for breaking fast.
They allegedly committed the offence at 10.48pm between July 11 and 12.
They were charged under subsection 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 which is punishable under subsection 4(1) of the same Act and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
For the first offence, they face a fine up to RM5,000, an imprisonment up to three years or both, and imprisonment up to five years for subsequent offence.
The couple later apologised in a video on YouTube for the posting, which sparked widespread anger. Their Facebook page is no longer accessible.
Prime Minister Najib Razak criticised the couple on Wednesday while discussing implementing a new law to replace the colonial-era sedition act, which has been slammed by critics as a tool to crack down on dissent.
"The insolent and impudent act by the young couple who insulted Islam showed that freedom of expression and irresponsible opinion can jeopardise the community," he was quoted by The Star as saying.
Last year Lee, a kindergarten teacher, and Tan, who is currently unemployed and a former law student at the National University of Singapore, sparked outrage in Malaysia and Singapore by posting erotic photographs and videos of their lovemaking as well as close-ups of their genitals on a blog.
The duo, who said they aimed to destigmatise sex, shut down the blog because of family pressure in the conservative countries, where pornography is illegal.
- BERNAMA/AFP/fa
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 18 Jul 2013 4:36 PM
Malaysia's infamous sex blogging couple on Thursday pleaded not guilty in the district court for posting insensitive Ramadan comments on their Facebook page and pornographic pictures in their blogs.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's infamous sex blogging couple on Thursday pleaded not guilty in the district court in Kuala Lumpur to three charges related to their action in posting their insensitive Ramadan greeting on their Facebook page and pornographic pictures in their blogs.
The charges against Alvin Tan Jye Yee, 25, and Vivian Lee May Ling, 24, were read before Judge Murtazadi Amran.
The couple were denied bail and will be jailed pending trial, said a court official. The next court date has been set for August 23.
Sedition is punishable by up to three years in jail.
In the first charge, they were jointly accused of making a seditious posting on their Facebook page by uploading a photo of themselves eating bak kut teh (a Chinese herbal pork soup) with a caption "Selamat Berbuka Puasa" - a Malay greeting for breaking fast.
They allegedly committed the offence at 10.48pm between July 11 and 12.
They were charged under subsection 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 which is punishable under subsection 4(1) of the same Act and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
For the first offence, they face a fine up to RM5,000, an imprisonment up to three years or both, and imprisonment up to five years for subsequent offence.
The couple later apologised in a video on YouTube for the posting, which sparked widespread anger. Their Facebook page is no longer accessible.
Prime Minister Najib Razak criticised the couple on Wednesday while discussing implementing a new law to replace the colonial-era sedition act, which has been slammed by critics as a tool to crack down on dissent.
"The insolent and impudent act by the young couple who insulted Islam showed that freedom of expression and irresponsible opinion can jeopardise the community," he was quoted by The Star as saying.
Last year Lee, a kindergarten teacher, and Tan, who is currently unemployed and a former law student at the National University of Singapore, sparked outrage in Malaysia and Singapore by posting erotic photographs and videos of their lovemaking as well as close-ups of their genitals on a blog.
The duo, who said they aimed to destigmatise sex, shut down the blog because of family pressure in the conservative countries, where pornography is illegal.
- BERNAMA/AFP/fa
- wong chee tat :)
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Students from local universities temper salary expectations
Students from local universities temper salary expectations
By Saifulbahri Ismail
POSTED: 10 Jul 2013 6:11 PM
University students are better managing their expectations on the salary of their first job. An online survey by talent company Universum showed that business students expect an average monthly salary of about S$3,300 -- that is a reduction of eight per cent from 2012.
SINGAPORE: University students are better managing their expectations on the salary of their first job. An online survey by talent company Universum showed that business students expect an average monthly salary of about S$3,300 -- that is a reduction of eight per cent from 2012.
Meanwhile, engineering students maintained their expected monthly salary at S$3,354.
The survey polled more than 6,000 students from Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University.
Universum said the lower expectations could be due to the tight labour market, as well as concerns over the viability and ease of finding a good first job upon graduation.
Students also continue to rank foreign companies more favourably as an ideal place to work.
The survey showed foreign employers have the edge over local companies in areas like training and development. However, private home-grown companies have better friendly work environment than their foreign counterparts.
Joakim Strom, managing director of Universum, said: "We will see more local companies (in the list) going forward because the local companies tend to start offering similar things as the foreign companies, such as international career opportunities and training.
"And I think the local companies are picking up very fast in terms of what they should offer to students in their career and development."
- AFP/ac
- wong chee tat :)
By Saifulbahri Ismail
POSTED: 10 Jul 2013 6:11 PM
University students are better managing their expectations on the salary of their first job. An online survey by talent company Universum showed that business students expect an average monthly salary of about S$3,300 -- that is a reduction of eight per cent from 2012.
SINGAPORE: University students are better managing their expectations on the salary of their first job. An online survey by talent company Universum showed that business students expect an average monthly salary of about S$3,300 -- that is a reduction of eight per cent from 2012.
Meanwhile, engineering students maintained their expected monthly salary at S$3,354.
The survey polled more than 6,000 students from Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University.
Universum said the lower expectations could be due to the tight labour market, as well as concerns over the viability and ease of finding a good first job upon graduation.
Students also continue to rank foreign companies more favourably as an ideal place to work.
The survey showed foreign employers have the edge over local companies in areas like training and development. However, private home-grown companies have better friendly work environment than their foreign counterparts.
Joakim Strom, managing director of Universum, said: "We will see more local companies (in the list) going forward because the local companies tend to start offering similar things as the foreign companies, such as international career opportunities and training.
"And I think the local companies are picking up very fast in terms of what they should offer to students in their career and development."
- AFP/ac
- wong chee tat :)
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Only perfect students need apply for a place in Delhi University
Only perfect students need apply for a place in Delhi University
By Avneet Arora
POSTED: 02 Jul 2013 11:10 AM
Students applying for a place in India's prestigious Delhi University have always known it is difficult to get in, but no one expected that the qualifying grade would have to be an almost perfect score.
NEW DELHI: Gaining admission into India's top ranked Delhi University has never been easy. To even be considered for undergraduate courses, students need to score above 90 per cent for their 12th grade board exams.
This year, it has become even more difficult to get in, as the cut-off grade has reached almost 100 per cent.
It is not only the popular courses that are tough to get in -- even a newly introduced computer science course offered by one of Delhi University's lesser-known colleges has taken the competition to another level.
Rajesh, who is a parent, said: "The competition has become very tough. From the children, the pressure has come onto us also, because we know from the beginning that cut-offs are so high. And our children, even after studying so hard, aren't sure if they will get in."
Economics, commerce, English and journalism are among the most sought after courses -- only half a per cent of applicants, or at best, 10 per cent will be accepted.
However, university administrators said there is still hope for students who did not make the first cut.
Dr Gulshan Sawhney, deputy dean of students welfare at Delhi University, said: "What's happened is that there is an additional eligibility criterion -- if you are a student who did maths with computer science, then there is one cut-off. Whereas if you didn't do those subjects, there is a slightly higher cut-off.
"So there is no need for confusion on this -- if a student has 95 per cent, they are eligible for this. And if you're not on this list, I would recommend you wait till the second list comes out and it is possible you will be on that one."
The university's cut-off grade, which soared past 95 per cent for most courses this year, sparked protests in a few colleges. Student organisations are calling for changes to the admission criteria, which they said favours the rich.
Alok, a research scholar at Delhi University, said: "Most of the students in this country study in government schools. So they cannot compete with those who graduate from private schools. In a way, children of the labourers who toiled to construct this very university building are being denied admission."
With 7,000 students scoring above 95 per cent in 2013, it is hard to hold colleges responsible for the high cut-off grade. But the call to review admission criteria remains a valid one. With a curriculum that promotes rote learning and lax grading standards, it is hard to imagine a bright future for the education system if it doesn't change its approach.
- CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
By Avneet Arora
POSTED: 02 Jul 2013 11:10 AM
Students applying for a place in India's prestigious Delhi University have always known it is difficult to get in, but no one expected that the qualifying grade would have to be an almost perfect score.
NEW DELHI: Gaining admission into India's top ranked Delhi University has never been easy. To even be considered for undergraduate courses, students need to score above 90 per cent for their 12th grade board exams.
This year, it has become even more difficult to get in, as the cut-off grade has reached almost 100 per cent.
It is not only the popular courses that are tough to get in -- even a newly introduced computer science course offered by one of Delhi University's lesser-known colleges has taken the competition to another level.
Rajesh, who is a parent, said: "The competition has become very tough. From the children, the pressure has come onto us also, because we know from the beginning that cut-offs are so high. And our children, even after studying so hard, aren't sure if they will get in."
Economics, commerce, English and journalism are among the most sought after courses -- only half a per cent of applicants, or at best, 10 per cent will be accepted.
However, university administrators said there is still hope for students who did not make the first cut.
Dr Gulshan Sawhney, deputy dean of students welfare at Delhi University, said: "What's happened is that there is an additional eligibility criterion -- if you are a student who did maths with computer science, then there is one cut-off. Whereas if you didn't do those subjects, there is a slightly higher cut-off.
"So there is no need for confusion on this -- if a student has 95 per cent, they are eligible for this. And if you're not on this list, I would recommend you wait till the second list comes out and it is possible you will be on that one."
The university's cut-off grade, which soared past 95 per cent for most courses this year, sparked protests in a few colleges. Student organisations are calling for changes to the admission criteria, which they said favours the rich.
Alok, a research scholar at Delhi University, said: "Most of the students in this country study in government schools. So they cannot compete with those who graduate from private schools. In a way, children of the labourers who toiled to construct this very university building are being denied admission."
With 7,000 students scoring above 95 per cent in 2013, it is hard to hold colleges responsible for the high cut-off grade. But the call to review admission criteria remains a valid one. With a curriculum that promotes rote learning and lax grading standards, it is hard to imagine a bright future for the education system if it doesn't change its approach.
- CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
Monday, March 4, 2013
NTU to offer new degree programme in public policy & global affairs
NTU to offer new degree programme in public policy & global affairs
Posted: 03 March 2013 1858 hrs
SINGAPORE: Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will offer a first-of-its-kind degree programme in Public Policy & Global Affairs in Singapore.
The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) programme offers a unique interdisciplinary curriculum that combines politics and international relations, public policy and public administration.
The programme, which will enrol its pioneer class of 55 students this August, will focus on two key areas for its teaching and research - global Asia and Asian regionalism and public policy in science and technology, creating new niche areas for NTU.
NTU said the new programme will prepare students for career and leadership roles in government agencies, non-profit organisations and the private sector.
It also fills the gap of one of the disciplinary cores in social sciences to be offered by NTU, namely political science.
Presently, through its School of Humanities and Social Sciences, seven social science majors are offered by NTU: Chinese, English, Economics, History, Linguistics and Multilingual Studies, Psychology and Sociology.
Prof Kam Chan Hin, Associate Provost in charge of Undergraduate Education at NTU, said: "As a university with established strengths in science, engineering and public administration, NTU is well-placed to offer this new programme to meet the growing demand for such policy experts, especially in Asia. The course will offer students real-world learning and practice in public service, particularly on how to deal with such strategic challenges and international and public affairs as a whole.
"The course builds on the strengths of NTU's core disciplines in the social sciences and enhances the intellectual breadth of the university. Besides providing rigorous training on the finer aspects of policy-making and global affairs, it will also imbue students with the critical values of leadership, integrity, life-long learning, exemplary character and professionalism."
Throughout the four-year direct honours programme, students will be exposed to a broad variety of subjects, such as policy analysis, programme evaluation, public financial management, human resource management and non-profit management.
They will also receive professional training in political dynamics, international politics, comparative politics, comparative public administration and global affairs.
Interdisciplinary courses will be taught by professors from different disciplines drawn from across the schools at NTU.
Prof Kam said: "Upon graduation, students will be ready to pursue a broad spectrum of rewarding careers in civil service administration, public management, policy analysis, journalism and research. They can also choose to become teachers, especially in Social Studies, History and China Studies. I am pleased that several potential employers, including a few ministries, the Economic Development Board and IE Singapore, have already expressed support for the programme."
Graduates from the programme will also be qualified to teach Social Studies, History and China Studies from primary school to junior college levels, to meet a growing demand in Singapore's schools.
As the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) will be a major partner in teaching and research, graduates from the programme can also pursue further studies at the RSIS.
The Public Policy and Global Affairs programme will be driven by Prof He Baogang, who has established an international reputation as an authority on Chinese democratisation, non-government organisations and local governance, as well as in international relations and Asian studies.
Prof He had also served as an adviser to public and governmental organisations, including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Danish International Development Agency.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 03 March 2013 1858 hrs
SINGAPORE: Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will offer a first-of-its-kind degree programme in Public Policy & Global Affairs in Singapore.
The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) programme offers a unique interdisciplinary curriculum that combines politics and international relations, public policy and public administration.
The programme, which will enrol its pioneer class of 55 students this August, will focus on two key areas for its teaching and research - global Asia and Asian regionalism and public policy in science and technology, creating new niche areas for NTU.
NTU said the new programme will prepare students for career and leadership roles in government agencies, non-profit organisations and the private sector.
It also fills the gap of one of the disciplinary cores in social sciences to be offered by NTU, namely political science.
Presently, through its School of Humanities and Social Sciences, seven social science majors are offered by NTU: Chinese, English, Economics, History, Linguistics and Multilingual Studies, Psychology and Sociology.
Prof Kam Chan Hin, Associate Provost in charge of Undergraduate Education at NTU, said: "As a university with established strengths in science, engineering and public administration, NTU is well-placed to offer this new programme to meet the growing demand for such policy experts, especially in Asia. The course will offer students real-world learning and practice in public service, particularly on how to deal with such strategic challenges and international and public affairs as a whole.
"The course builds on the strengths of NTU's core disciplines in the social sciences and enhances the intellectual breadth of the university. Besides providing rigorous training on the finer aspects of policy-making and global affairs, it will also imbue students with the critical values of leadership, integrity, life-long learning, exemplary character and professionalism."
Throughout the four-year direct honours programme, students will be exposed to a broad variety of subjects, such as policy analysis, programme evaluation, public financial management, human resource management and non-profit management.
They will also receive professional training in political dynamics, international politics, comparative politics, comparative public administration and global affairs.
Interdisciplinary courses will be taught by professors from different disciplines drawn from across the schools at NTU.
Prof Kam said: "Upon graduation, students will be ready to pursue a broad spectrum of rewarding careers in civil service administration, public management, policy analysis, journalism and research. They can also choose to become teachers, especially in Social Studies, History and China Studies. I am pleased that several potential employers, including a few ministries, the Economic Development Board and IE Singapore, have already expressed support for the programme."
Graduates from the programme will also be qualified to teach Social Studies, History and China Studies from primary school to junior college levels, to meet a growing demand in Singapore's schools.
As the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) will be a major partner in teaching and research, graduates from the programme can also pursue further studies at the RSIS.
The Public Policy and Global Affairs programme will be driven by Prof He Baogang, who has established an international reputation as an authority on Chinese democratisation, non-government organisations and local governance, as well as in international relations and Asian studies.
Prof He had also served as an adviser to public and governmental organisations, including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Danish International Development Agency.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Monday, January 21, 2013
NUS law prof challenges CPIB officer in sex-for-grades trial
NUS law prof challenges CPIB officer in sex-for-grades trial
By Claire Huang | Posted: 17 January 2013 2159 hrs
SINGAPORE: The law professor on trial for corruption in a sex-for-grades case on Thursday cross-examined an anti-graft officer on the admissibility of one of six statements. The procedure is also known as a "trial within a trial".
Tey Tsun Hang challenged Bay Chun How to prove his case that his statement given to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) was made under duress.
If he can prove this, he will able to argue that the evidence cannot be admitted in court and this would weaken the prosecution's case.
On the sixth day of the closely-watched trial, several allegations were made against CPIB officer Bay Chun How, who recorded one of six of Tey's statements.
Tey had been picked up by Mr Bay on 2 April last year to help with investigations, but he became ill and was said to be vomiting.
Tey was sent to Alexandra Hospital in an ambulance.
Tey has charged that Mr Bay had been eager to haul him back to the CPIB on 5 April, to record a statement, even though he was still on medical leave.
But the senior officer pointed out that it was Tey who "insisted on giving (the) statement".
Later, when re-examined by the prosecution on whether he had asked how Tey was feeling during the interview, Mr Bay said: "No. He looked fine, clear-headed."
During the interrogation, Tey, a former district judge, said he showed Mr Bay his medication, but was still forced to make a confession. Mr Bay firmly denied this.
At one point in time, Tey claimed that Mr Bay threatened to place his wife under arrest. Mr Bay disagreed.
Tey's other allegations include Mr Bay swearing at him and placing him in a "very cold interrogation cell" on 2 April. Mr Bay denied having sworn at Tey.
As for the interrogation cell, he said: "The air-con controller was mounted on the wall for you to adjust."
During prosecution's re-examination, Mr Bay also shed light on the time when Tey fell ill.
He told the court his colleague reported to him that Tey was vomiting. "I was expecting to see pale face, bad content on the floor, vomit, but I saw none of those," said Mr Bay.
Prosecutor Kok Shu-En asked: "So what did you see?"
"I saw the accused holding on to a clear plastic bag and trying to vomit something into the bag. The bag had only a few mouthfuls of saliva inside," said Mr Bay.
Mr Bay also told the court on the day when Tey was sent to the hospital, the paramedics who came to pick him up were grumbling.
He said Tey had insisted on being wheeled out to the ambulance, despite being mobile.
Several times during the hearing, the Chief District Judge Tan Siong Thye would remind Tey to focus when it seemed like he was deviating from the purpose of showing the court that his statement is inadmissible.
Tey's repetitive questioning and the fact that Mr Bay did not answer questions directly also slowed down the pace of the trial.
Five other statements of Tey are being disputed.
Two were recorded by CPIB officer Wilson Khoo, who testified in court as the prosecution's eighth witness on Thursday.
The remaining three were recorded by CPIB Deputy Director Teng Khee Fatt.
Tey faces six allegations of obtaining gratification in the form of gifts and sex from his former student, Ms Darinne Ko, between May and July in 2010, in exchange for giving her better grades.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
By Claire Huang | Posted: 17 January 2013 2159 hrs
SINGAPORE: The law professor on trial for corruption in a sex-for-grades case on Thursday cross-examined an anti-graft officer on the admissibility of one of six statements. The procedure is also known as a "trial within a trial".
Tey Tsun Hang challenged Bay Chun How to prove his case that his statement given to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) was made under duress.
If he can prove this, he will able to argue that the evidence cannot be admitted in court and this would weaken the prosecution's case.
On the sixth day of the closely-watched trial, several allegations were made against CPIB officer Bay Chun How, who recorded one of six of Tey's statements.
Tey had been picked up by Mr Bay on 2 April last year to help with investigations, but he became ill and was said to be vomiting.
Tey was sent to Alexandra Hospital in an ambulance.
Tey has charged that Mr Bay had been eager to haul him back to the CPIB on 5 April, to record a statement, even though he was still on medical leave.
But the senior officer pointed out that it was Tey who "insisted on giving (the) statement".
Later, when re-examined by the prosecution on whether he had asked how Tey was feeling during the interview, Mr Bay said: "No. He looked fine, clear-headed."
During the interrogation, Tey, a former district judge, said he showed Mr Bay his medication, but was still forced to make a confession. Mr Bay firmly denied this.
At one point in time, Tey claimed that Mr Bay threatened to place his wife under arrest. Mr Bay disagreed.
Tey's other allegations include Mr Bay swearing at him and placing him in a "very cold interrogation cell" on 2 April. Mr Bay denied having sworn at Tey.
As for the interrogation cell, he said: "The air-con controller was mounted on the wall for you to adjust."
During prosecution's re-examination, Mr Bay also shed light on the time when Tey fell ill.
He told the court his colleague reported to him that Tey was vomiting. "I was expecting to see pale face, bad content on the floor, vomit, but I saw none of those," said Mr Bay.
Prosecutor Kok Shu-En asked: "So what did you see?"
"I saw the accused holding on to a clear plastic bag and trying to vomit something into the bag. The bag had only a few mouthfuls of saliva inside," said Mr Bay.
Mr Bay also told the court on the day when Tey was sent to the hospital, the paramedics who came to pick him up were grumbling.
He said Tey had insisted on being wheeled out to the ambulance, despite being mobile.
Several times during the hearing, the Chief District Judge Tan Siong Thye would remind Tey to focus when it seemed like he was deviating from the purpose of showing the court that his statement is inadmissible.
Tey's repetitive questioning and the fact that Mr Bay did not answer questions directly also slowed down the pace of the trial.
Five other statements of Tey are being disputed.
Two were recorded by CPIB officer Wilson Khoo, who testified in court as the prosecution's eighth witness on Thursday.
The remaining three were recorded by CPIB Deputy Director Teng Khee Fatt.
Tey faces six allegations of obtaining gratification in the form of gifts and sex from his former student, Ms Darinne Ko, between May and July in 2010, in exchange for giving her better grades.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
NUS law prof couldn't remember own name in hospital: CPIB officer
NUS law prof couldn't remember own name in hospital: CPIB officer
By Claire Huang | Posted: 18 January 2013 1410 hrs
SINGAPORE: The law professor defending himself in his corruption trial could not remember his name, identity card number and address on the day he was supposed to be discharged from hospital.
The prosecution's 8th witness, Mr Wilson Khoo of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), revealed this in court on Friday morning.
He said the accused, Tey Tsun Hang, was overheard telling the staff at Alexandra Hospital while he was getting discharged on April 4, 2012.
Tey, 41, was admitted to the hospital on April 2 -- the day he was at the CPIB for questioning. During his time there, Tey felt unwell and was sent to the hospital by ambulance.
He was to be discharged two days later but while making arrangements to do so, one of the doctors declared that he was not ready to leave hospital care.
Mr Khoo told the court that Tey appeared unexpectedly at the CPIB the next day on April 5, ready to give his statement.
During the interview, Mr Khoo said Tey had asked him to let him know about the bribes he had allegedly received, as well as what he had allegedly done in exchange for them.
Mr Khoo said he told Tey that he was the one who was giving the statement and asked Tey to say whatever he could recall.
Previously, Tey had claimed that CPIB investigator Bay Chun How had showed him a list with the names of students and the gifts they purportedly gave. He said Mr Bay, who took the stand on Thursday, had asked him to confirm the names of the students and gifts.
However, Mr Bay had denied this.
Tey, a former district judge, faces allegations that he corruptly obtained gratification in the form of gifts and sex from a former student, Ms Darinne Ko Wen Hui, who is now 23, in return for lifting her grades.
He allegedly committed the offences between May and July 2010.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
By Claire Huang | Posted: 18 January 2013 1410 hrs
SINGAPORE: The law professor defending himself in his corruption trial could not remember his name, identity card number and address on the day he was supposed to be discharged from hospital.
The prosecution's 8th witness, Mr Wilson Khoo of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), revealed this in court on Friday morning.
He said the accused, Tey Tsun Hang, was overheard telling the staff at Alexandra Hospital while he was getting discharged on April 4, 2012.
Tey, 41, was admitted to the hospital on April 2 -- the day he was at the CPIB for questioning. During his time there, Tey felt unwell and was sent to the hospital by ambulance.
He was to be discharged two days later but while making arrangements to do so, one of the doctors declared that he was not ready to leave hospital care.
Mr Khoo told the court that Tey appeared unexpectedly at the CPIB the next day on April 5, ready to give his statement.
During the interview, Mr Khoo said Tey had asked him to let him know about the bribes he had allegedly received, as well as what he had allegedly done in exchange for them.
Mr Khoo said he told Tey that he was the one who was giving the statement and asked Tey to say whatever he could recall.
Previously, Tey had claimed that CPIB investigator Bay Chun How had showed him a list with the names of students and the gifts they purportedly gave. He said Mr Bay, who took the stand on Thursday, had asked him to confirm the names of the students and gifts.
However, Mr Bay had denied this.
Tey, a former district judge, faces allegations that he corruptly obtained gratification in the form of gifts and sex from a former student, Ms Darinne Ko Wen Hui, who is now 23, in return for lifting her grades.
He allegedly committed the offences between May and July 2010.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
NUS law prof may not be as ill as he claimed to be: CPIB officer
NUS law prof may not be as ill as he claimed to be: CPIB officer
By Claire Huang | Posted: 18 January 2013 2237 hrs
SINGAPORE: There was a constant war of words between Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) officer Wilson Khoo and Tey Tsun Hang on the seventh day of the trial, during the accused's cross-examination of the witness.
Tey, 41, faces allegations that he corruptly obtained gifts and sex from a former student, Ms Darinne Ko Wen Hui, in return for giving her better grades.
One area of contention was whether Tey was indeed ill on 2 April last year.
Tey was admitted to hospital on the day he was at the CPIB for questioning.
Tey had felt unwell and was sent to hospital by ambulance.
In Mr Khoo's diary entry, he wrote the doctor treating Tey was unable to diagnose any medical condition.
Tey accused Mr Khoo of making it sound like "he was play-acting", "trying to fool CPIB officers" and "trying to bamboozle them".
But the witness retorted this was what the doctor told him.
Tey fired back, saying he will prove in due course that the doctor had diagnosed him with "altered mental status" upon hospitalisation.
During the hearing, Mr Khoo said on 4 April, when Tey was to be discharged from the hospital, he could not remember his name, identity card number and address.
He said Tey was overheard saying this to the staff at Alexandra Hospital while he was getting discharged on 4 April 2012.
While making arrangements to do so, one of the doctors tested Tey's condition and declared that he was not ready to leave hospital care.
Another point of argument - Tey was "overly cooperative" in giving statement to CPIB on 5 April.
Mr Khoo testified that Tey appeared unexpectedly at the CPIB, and insisted on giving his statement.
During the interview, Mr Khoo said Tey repeatedly asked the officer to note the dates of gratification and favours he had received.
He also asked Mr Khoo to tell him what he had allegedly done in exchange for them.
"No accused person would be so actively volunteering such information," said Mr Khoo.
Tey shot back, asking Mr Khoo if he would give CPIB ideas "so that he could be charged with more charges of corruption?".
To which, the witness said: "Yes, your honour. Absolutely!"
Previously, Tey had claimed that CPIB investigator Bay Chun How showed him a list with the names of students and the gifts they purportedly gave.
He said Mr Bay, who took the stand on Thursday, had asked him to confirm the names of the students and gifts. But Mr Bay disagreed.
Heated exchanges also took place between the two over the time taken to record Tey's statements.
Mr Khoo recorded two of Tey's statements. One was made on 5 April and the other, 10 April.
The earlier statement, comprising five pages, took some three hours to record while the other four-page statement took two hours 15 minutes.
Tey then made the point that the recordings of a few pages should not take that long, unless there was selective recording and constant badgering by Mr Khoo to give confessions deemed satisfactory to them.
But Mr Khoo said time was taken to interview Tey and the duration also included time taken for Tey to read the recordings before printing.
Another contention was the words "corrupt intent".
Mr Khoo had said Tey had insisted on using those words in his confession.
This drew Tey's rebuttal: "So the defendant insisted so that he will end up in Changi (prison)?"
Mr Khoo immediately replied: "Yes. He insisted."
During the cross-examination, Tey pointed out that there were several similar entries in not just Mr Khoo's investigation diary, but Mr Bay's as well.
The former district judge pointed to entry number 6 made in Mr Khoo's diary on 2 April 2012, saying it is "word-for-word", exactly the same as Mr Bay's entry number 12.
He noted that the words "items seized sealed in the bag by me" were used in both entries, describing the same event.
In the end, Mr Khoo ascertained that he was the one who sealed the bag.
Tey also charged that CPIB officers had used expletives on him and pressured him into making confessions. These were all denied by Mr Khoo.
Towards the last half hour of the morning's proceedings, Tey sprang a surprise during his cross-examination of Mr Khoo.
He showed the witness a receipt of a psychiatric consultation with Dr Tommy Tan, and said Dr Tan will be called to the stand.
This was met with strong objection by lead prosecutor Andre Jumabhoy, who pointed out that Mr Khoo was not in a position to answer questions pertaining to Dr Tan.
He added: "If the defence wishes to call an expert witness, especially one who they have told us they are not calling, they should have at the very least informed us if they had changed their mind and before calling their witness. Bearing in mind he's an expert, they should produce a report so that we can instruct an expert if necessary."
But Tey rebutted - saying that the prosecution had not been willing to disclose information and provide material to the defence.
This prompted Mr Jumabhoy to say: "I resent the suggestion that the prosecution have not complied with its obligations in respect of disclosure.
"We have, from the very outset way back in August 2012, been serving material on this accused. He has been in receipt of the list of witnesses which have been updated, yes, but at each stage that they have been updated, he has been in receipt of that list."
The DPP went on to say that Tey has known the list of prosecution witnesses two weeks before the trial, which he said, "as a matter of law, is more than he (Tey) has a right to expect".
Mr Jumabhoy then said the accused has not been straight with the court.
He said: "It's clear from what has happened that this accused has not been straight with the prosecution and certainly not straight with the court. It rings somewhat hollow for him to be suggesting on 18 January that the decision to call Tommy Tan was taken only after hearing Mr Wilson Khoo's evidence."
In the end, Tey said he would serve the relevant information to the prosecution.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
By Claire Huang | Posted: 18 January 2013 2237 hrs
SINGAPORE: There was a constant war of words between Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) officer Wilson Khoo and Tey Tsun Hang on the seventh day of the trial, during the accused's cross-examination of the witness.
Tey, 41, faces allegations that he corruptly obtained gifts and sex from a former student, Ms Darinne Ko Wen Hui, in return for giving her better grades.
One area of contention was whether Tey was indeed ill on 2 April last year.
Tey was admitted to hospital on the day he was at the CPIB for questioning.
Tey had felt unwell and was sent to hospital by ambulance.
In Mr Khoo's diary entry, he wrote the doctor treating Tey was unable to diagnose any medical condition.
Tey accused Mr Khoo of making it sound like "he was play-acting", "trying to fool CPIB officers" and "trying to bamboozle them".
But the witness retorted this was what the doctor told him.
Tey fired back, saying he will prove in due course that the doctor had diagnosed him with "altered mental status" upon hospitalisation.
During the hearing, Mr Khoo said on 4 April, when Tey was to be discharged from the hospital, he could not remember his name, identity card number and address.
He said Tey was overheard saying this to the staff at Alexandra Hospital while he was getting discharged on 4 April 2012.
While making arrangements to do so, one of the doctors tested Tey's condition and declared that he was not ready to leave hospital care.
Another point of argument - Tey was "overly cooperative" in giving statement to CPIB on 5 April.
Mr Khoo testified that Tey appeared unexpectedly at the CPIB, and insisted on giving his statement.
During the interview, Mr Khoo said Tey repeatedly asked the officer to note the dates of gratification and favours he had received.
He also asked Mr Khoo to tell him what he had allegedly done in exchange for them.
"No accused person would be so actively volunteering such information," said Mr Khoo.
Tey shot back, asking Mr Khoo if he would give CPIB ideas "so that he could be charged with more charges of corruption?".
To which, the witness said: "Yes, your honour. Absolutely!"
Previously, Tey had claimed that CPIB investigator Bay Chun How showed him a list with the names of students and the gifts they purportedly gave.
He said Mr Bay, who took the stand on Thursday, had asked him to confirm the names of the students and gifts. But Mr Bay disagreed.
Heated exchanges also took place between the two over the time taken to record Tey's statements.
Mr Khoo recorded two of Tey's statements. One was made on 5 April and the other, 10 April.
The earlier statement, comprising five pages, took some three hours to record while the other four-page statement took two hours 15 minutes.
Tey then made the point that the recordings of a few pages should not take that long, unless there was selective recording and constant badgering by Mr Khoo to give confessions deemed satisfactory to them.
But Mr Khoo said time was taken to interview Tey and the duration also included time taken for Tey to read the recordings before printing.
Another contention was the words "corrupt intent".
Mr Khoo had said Tey had insisted on using those words in his confession.
This drew Tey's rebuttal: "So the defendant insisted so that he will end up in Changi (prison)?"
Mr Khoo immediately replied: "Yes. He insisted."
During the cross-examination, Tey pointed out that there were several similar entries in not just Mr Khoo's investigation diary, but Mr Bay's as well.
The former district judge pointed to entry number 6 made in Mr Khoo's diary on 2 April 2012, saying it is "word-for-word", exactly the same as Mr Bay's entry number 12.
He noted that the words "items seized sealed in the bag by me" were used in both entries, describing the same event.
In the end, Mr Khoo ascertained that he was the one who sealed the bag.
Tey also charged that CPIB officers had used expletives on him and pressured him into making confessions. These were all denied by Mr Khoo.
Towards the last half hour of the morning's proceedings, Tey sprang a surprise during his cross-examination of Mr Khoo.
He showed the witness a receipt of a psychiatric consultation with Dr Tommy Tan, and said Dr Tan will be called to the stand.
This was met with strong objection by lead prosecutor Andre Jumabhoy, who pointed out that Mr Khoo was not in a position to answer questions pertaining to Dr Tan.
He added: "If the defence wishes to call an expert witness, especially one who they have told us they are not calling, they should have at the very least informed us if they had changed their mind and before calling their witness. Bearing in mind he's an expert, they should produce a report so that we can instruct an expert if necessary."
But Tey rebutted - saying that the prosecution had not been willing to disclose information and provide material to the defence.
This prompted Mr Jumabhoy to say: "I resent the suggestion that the prosecution have not complied with its obligations in respect of disclosure.
"We have, from the very outset way back in August 2012, been serving material on this accused. He has been in receipt of the list of witnesses which have been updated, yes, but at each stage that they have been updated, he has been in receipt of that list."
The DPP went on to say that Tey has known the list of prosecution witnesses two weeks before the trial, which he said, "as a matter of law, is more than he (Tey) has a right to expect".
Mr Jumabhoy then said the accused has not been straight with the court.
He said: "It's clear from what has happened that this accused has not been straight with the prosecution and certainly not straight with the court. It rings somewhat hollow for him to be suggesting on 18 January that the decision to call Tommy Tan was taken only after hearing Mr Wilson Khoo's evidence."
In the end, Tey said he would serve the relevant information to the prosecution.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
NUS prof Tey questions CPIB officer in "trial within a trial"
NUS prof Tey questions CPIB officer in "trial within a trial"
By Claire Huang | Posted: 17 January 2013 1125 hrs
SINGAPORE: The law professor on trial for corruption in a sex-for-grades case is cross-examining an anti-graft officer on the admissibility of one of six statements -- in what is called a "trial within a trial".
Tey Tsun Hang is questioning Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) Chief Special Investigator Bay Chun How to prove his case that the statement given to CPIB was made under duress.
If he can prove this, Tey will be able to argue that the evidence cannot be admitted in court. This would weaken the prosecution's case.
Five other statements of Tey's are being disputed. Two were recorded by CPIB officer Wilson Khoo and three by Deputy Director Teng Khee Fatt.
They are expected to take the stand in the "trial within a trial".
Tey, 41, faces six allegations of obtaining gratification in the form of gifts and sex from his former student, Ms Darinne Ko, between May and July 2010, in exchange for lifting her grades.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
By Claire Huang | Posted: 17 January 2013 1125 hrs
SINGAPORE: The law professor on trial for corruption in a sex-for-grades case is cross-examining an anti-graft officer on the admissibility of one of six statements -- in what is called a "trial within a trial".
Tey Tsun Hang is questioning Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) Chief Special Investigator Bay Chun How to prove his case that the statement given to CPIB was made under duress.
If he can prove this, Tey will be able to argue that the evidence cannot be admitted in court. This would weaken the prosecution's case.
Five other statements of Tey's are being disputed. Two were recorded by CPIB officer Wilson Khoo and three by Deputy Director Teng Khee Fatt.
They are expected to take the stand in the "trial within a trial".
Tey, 41, faces six allegations of obtaining gratification in the form of gifts and sex from his former student, Ms Darinne Ko, between May and July 2010, in exchange for lifting her grades.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
Thursday, January 17, 2013
教授接受性贿赂案：关键证人高文慧曾怀孕并堕胎
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Today's photo
涉及国大法学院副教授性贿赂案的关键证人高文慧，向查案人员透露，自己曾经怀孕并堕胎。
贪污调查局查案人员Bay Chun How今天出庭供证时说，高文慧是在去年4月2号第一次被带到当局接受调查时，向当局透露这点。
Bay Chun How是控方的第七名证人。他说，他当天到被告郑尊行的家调查，大约早上10点回返贪污调查局。当时，他了解到高文慧在受盘问的过程中，十分合作，并证实曾送被告礼物、同他发生关系。高文慧也告诉查案人员自己怀孕和堕胎的事。
41岁的郑尊行共面对六项控状，指他在2010年5月到7月间，向当时的学生高文慧，索取礼物和性贿赂，让她献身以换取更好成绩。
自行抗辩的被告郑尊行，较早前盘问控方第二证人，也就是贪污调查局查案人员方娟娟时，指当局是通过诱导、恐吓和许诺的手段，录取高文慧的口供。方娟娟对此加以否认。
控方第三个证人今天也出庭供证。她是国大人力资源部的高级副处长 Lee Swee Khuen。她说，国大有一套行为准则，要求职员必须呈报所收到的礼品和任何利益冲突。
- wong chee tat :)
郑尊行性贿赂案 涉案女生曾怀孕堕胎
记者：林伟玲
新闻视频
国大法学院副教授财色贿赂案审讯第五天，被告郑尊行反对控方将他在贪污调查局录的六份口供书呈堂，法庭因此进入案中案的审讯。负责为他录口供书的贪污调查局调查员也爆出，他被告知，涉案女生曾怀孕和堕胎。
声 称供词并非自愿作出，被告郑尊行反对六份口供书呈堂，案子目前进入案中案的审讯。法官接下来必须对，是否接纳口供书为证据做出裁决，调查员在录制口供的过 程中，有没有使用不恰当的手段，成了审讯的焦点。为被告录制第一份口供书的贪污调查局调查员马俊豪透露，虽然被告是在去年4月2日被带到贪污调查局问话， 不过因为被告后来身体不适，被紧急送医，口供三天后才录制完成。当被问及，录口供过程中，是否有强迫、利诱或答应给被告任何好处时，马俊豪表示没有，因为 对方可是前法官。
郑尊行去年4月2日被带到贪污调查局问话，但三天后才录完口供，整个过程极为戏剧性。以下是为被告录下第一份口供书的贪污调查局调查员马俊豪在庭上供证的内容摘要：
4月2日
| 早上： 调查员马俊豪形容被告在谈到自己的教育背景、事业时，非常合作，也很坦率。但当他被告知案件详情之后，对方突然沉默，低下头。当调查员抬起他的头时，发现被告眼眶泛红。后来他一直不回答问题，还表示，知道这天会到来。 |
| 下午2点： 调查员原本想了解他与涉案女生的关系，但郑尊行不断啜泣，拒绝回答问题，调查员根本无法问话。 |
| 晚上7点： 郑尊行声称想呕吐，头晕，胸口疼痛。 |
| 晚上8点25分： 调查员紧急传召救护车。 |
| 晚上8点45分： 救护车抵达将郑尊行送到亚历山大医院。 |
| 晚上11点25分： 调查员被告知，医生诊断郑尊行没事，但他身体上的不适，已经转换成一个精神上问题，因此认为郑尊行必须留院。原本在医院待着的贪污调查局调查员被令撤回。 |
| 调查员到医院了解郑尊行的情况，医生说，郑尊行因为被关在谈话室多个小时，患上幽闭恐惧症。 |
| 调查员接到院方来电，指郑尊行已经可以出院了。贪污调查局派人员下去接他，但郑尊行无法顺利出院，因为他忘了自己的名字、住址、电话号码，无法完整填写出院文件。 |
| 下午1点： 院方又来电，指郑尊行可以出院，不过调查员告诉院方，他们决定让郑尊行多休息，他可以自己离开医院。 |
| 下午2点： 郑 尊行致电贪污调查局，称要下来录口供，还叫调查员来接他。马俊豪告诉他，等他病假结束后才继续录口供，不过郑尊行坚持。马俊豪回复郑尊行，如果真要来，就 自己下来。郑尊行抵达贪污调查局之后，马俊豪去接他，郑尊行当时还穿着病人服装。郑尊行称，那是因为他之前呕吐弄脏了衣服。 |
星期三出庭供证的还有国大人力资源处高级协理处长李瑞勤。她透露， 被告目前被令暂时停职，不过依然领取全额薪资。 据了解郑尊行是在去年7月被控，不久之后就被令停职。
- wong chee tat :)
NUS law prof Tey contests 6 CPIB statements
NUS law prof Tey contests 6 CPIB statements
By Claire Huang | Posted: 16 January 2013 1313 hrs
SINGAPORE: The National University of Singapore (NUS) law professor defending himself in the sex-for-grades corruption trial has contested the admissibility of his six statements to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
Tey Tsun Hang, 41, said they cannot be counted as evidence as they were made under duress.
A hearing to determine the admissibility of the statements, also known as trial within a trial, took place on Wednesday.
Tey faces six allegations that he obtained gifts and sex from his ex-student and then girlfriend, Ms Darinne Ko Wen Hui between May and July in 2010, in return for lifting her grades.
Prosecution's seventh witness, CPIB investigator Bay Chun How told the court that during the interview on April 2 last year, Tey Tsun Hang said he had "expected this day to come".
During the trial within a trial hearing, he said Tey had started out being "frank", "forthright" and "helpful", but turned silent when told of the allegations.
Mr Bay recalled Tey staring at his tie then looking up at him with "red and tearing" eyes.
In recounting the events of April 2, Mr Bay also told the court that Ms Ko revealed to them she had been pregnant.
He told the court he had returned to the bureau shortly before 10am that day after making a trip to Tey's house.
Before interviewing Tey, Mr Bay had wanted to find out what progress had been made.
That was when he learnt that Ms Ko was already giving information and had confirmed her sexual relationship with Tey, as well as the gifts.
He added that she had told the CPIB about her pregnancy and abortion.
The court heard that Tey became unwell during questioning on April 2 and was sent to the hospital in an ambulance.
While he was on sick leave, Mr Bay said Tey offered to go back to CPIB to record his statement.
When asked how he reacted towards Tey, bearing in mind he had just got out of hospital, Mr Bay said: "He looked well and wanted to give the statement."
Asked if the recording of the statement was made under threat, inducement or promises, Mr Bay flatly denied it, saying it is because Tey is an ex-public prosecutor and former judge.
Mr Bay had recorded one of six statements contested by Tey. His colleague Wilson Khoo recorded two statements, while Deputy Director Teng Khee Fatt recorded the other three.
A trial within trial takes place when the three men take the stand to testify.
With such a hearing, both the prosecution and defence will question the three CPIB staff to see if the statements were made under duress.
If so, the defence can then argue that the statements are inadmissible in court.
Earlier in the day, Tey continued his cross-examination of CPIB officer Png Chen Chen.
She was the one who interrogated Ms Ko.
Tey charged that Ms Png extracted the confession from Ms Ko under inducement, promises and threats, but the CPIB officer disagreed.
The trial continues with Mr Bay on the stand for a second day.
Ms Png was the prosecution's second witness.
A third prosecution witness, Mdm Lee Swee Khuen, also took the stand.
Mdm Lee is a senior associate director of the Human Resource Department of NUS.
She testified that NUS has a code of conduct, requiring staff to declare gifts as well as conflict of interests.
An issue raised by Tey on January 15 also surfaced during her testimony.
Tey had said he could not afford two forensic tests costing more than S$50,000 to verify handwriting and ink dating on his cheque book entries as he has been suspended since July last year.
On Wednesday, Mdm Lee told the court that Tey is still receiving his pay every month, even while on suspension.
MediaCorp understands that Tey is paid more than S$15,000 a month.
The fourth witness who testified was Ms Eileen Pang, senior associate director of financial services at NUS.
Other prosecution witnesses who testified in court were Mr Akira Goh of CYC Shanghai Shirt Company, and Mr De Costa Desmond Max, seller of the iPod Touch.
The trial continues with Mr Bay on the stand for a second day on Thursday.
- CNA/fa
- wong chee tat :)
By Claire Huang | Posted: 16 January 2013 1313 hrs
SINGAPORE: The National University of Singapore (NUS) law professor defending himself in the sex-for-grades corruption trial has contested the admissibility of his six statements to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
Tey Tsun Hang, 41, said they cannot be counted as evidence as they were made under duress.
A hearing to determine the admissibility of the statements, also known as trial within a trial, took place on Wednesday.
Tey faces six allegations that he obtained gifts and sex from his ex-student and then girlfriend, Ms Darinne Ko Wen Hui between May and July in 2010, in return for lifting her grades.
Prosecution's seventh witness, CPIB investigator Bay Chun How told the court that during the interview on April 2 last year, Tey Tsun Hang said he had "expected this day to come".
During the trial within a trial hearing, he said Tey had started out being "frank", "forthright" and "helpful", but turned silent when told of the allegations.
Mr Bay recalled Tey staring at his tie then looking up at him with "red and tearing" eyes.
In recounting the events of April 2, Mr Bay also told the court that Ms Ko revealed to them she had been pregnant.
He told the court he had returned to the bureau shortly before 10am that day after making a trip to Tey's house.
Before interviewing Tey, Mr Bay had wanted to find out what progress had been made.
That was when he learnt that Ms Ko was already giving information and had confirmed her sexual relationship with Tey, as well as the gifts.
He added that she had told the CPIB about her pregnancy and abortion.
The court heard that Tey became unwell during questioning on April 2 and was sent to the hospital in an ambulance.
While he was on sick leave, Mr Bay said Tey offered to go back to CPIB to record his statement.
When asked how he reacted towards Tey, bearing in mind he had just got out of hospital, Mr Bay said: "He looked well and wanted to give the statement."
Asked if the recording of the statement was made under threat, inducement or promises, Mr Bay flatly denied it, saying it is because Tey is an ex-public prosecutor and former judge.
Mr Bay had recorded one of six statements contested by Tey. His colleague Wilson Khoo recorded two statements, while Deputy Director Teng Khee Fatt recorded the other three.
A trial within trial takes place when the three men take the stand to testify.
With such a hearing, both the prosecution and defence will question the three CPIB staff to see if the statements were made under duress.
If so, the defence can then argue that the statements are inadmissible in court.
Earlier in the day, Tey continued his cross-examination of CPIB officer Png Chen Chen.
She was the one who interrogated Ms Ko.
Tey charged that Ms Png extracted the confession from Ms Ko under inducement, promises and threats, but the CPIB officer disagreed.
The trial continues with Mr Bay on the stand for a second day.
Ms Png was the prosecution's second witness.
A third prosecution witness, Mdm Lee Swee Khuen, also took the stand.
Mdm Lee is a senior associate director of the Human Resource Department of NUS.
She testified that NUS has a code of conduct, requiring staff to declare gifts as well as conflict of interests.
An issue raised by Tey on January 15 also surfaced during her testimony.
Tey had said he could not afford two forensic tests costing more than S$50,000 to verify handwriting and ink dating on his cheque book entries as he has been suspended since July last year.
On Wednesday, Mdm Lee told the court that Tey is still receiving his pay every month, even while on suspension.
MediaCorp understands that Tey is paid more than S$15,000 a month.
The fourth witness who testified was Ms Eileen Pang, senior associate director of financial services at NUS.
Other prosecution witnesses who testified in court were Mr Akira Goh of CYC Shanghai Shirt Company, and Mr De Costa Desmond Max, seller of the iPod Touch.
The trial continues with Mr Bay on the stand for a second day on Thursday.
- CNA/fa
- wong chee tat :)
Monday, January 14, 2013
Wardrobe change and the trial begins
Wardrobe change and the trial begins
By:
SHOW time.
From the moment Tey Tsun Hang stepped out of a white car at the Subordinate Courts yesterday morning till the time he left the court in the evening, the drama never stopped.
Stepping out of the car, he took a moment to pose casually for press photographers.
In court, the action continued.
First, his lawyer, Mr Peter Low, requested Tey also be allowed to actively cross-examine witnesses. Tey said that if that was not allowed, he would discharge Mr Low and represent himself.
After a round of discussions, Tey decided to retain Mr Low as his solicitor, who would give him legal advice but not address the court. Tey would conduct his own defence.
Next, he argued on what he called a “minor, inane point” – that unlike the prosecutors, he did not have a screen before him which would allow him to read the live transcript of the proceedings.
The New Paper understands that typically all parties in a trial would decide if they wanted to engage such services and share the costs. The service, provided by an external company, costs several thousand dollars a day.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Andre Jumabhoy said Tey had opted to cancel this service a few days ago.
The 41-year-old law professor, who has since been suspended, then whipped out a copy of the Subordinate Court Practice Direction to argue that he should be given similar access to any such transcripts.
Chief District Judge Tan Siong Thye adjourned the hearing and got all parties into his chambers to settle the administrative matter. Tey eventually got access to the live feeds, at least for yesterday.
Before the trial resumed, Tey left the courtroom. When he returned, he had ditched his grey and white striped suit for a blazer and lawyers’ robes.
The lawyers’ robes are usually used during High Court appearances, rather than at the Subordinate Courts.
Tey then started setting up a mini office in the dock, putting up a wooden easel to prop up legal documents and carrying other bags and files into the dock.
He directed several of his former students to sit behind the defence counsel’s table and they took notes during the hearing.
When court resumed, Tey asked the judge if he could stand at the defence counsel’s table instead as the dock would “pose considerable physical restraints in my current constitution”.
Tey, who has a slight limp, made his way to court using an umbrella as a walking stick.
Mr Jumabhoy objected, arguing that though Tey was representing himself, it did not change his position as the accused and therefore he should remain in the dock.
While this was being discussed, Tey turned to face the public gallery, put both hands on the dock and then casually popped a sweet into his mouth.
When the court officer was reading the charges to Tey, he turned the microphone to the officer and later patted him on his back after all charges were read.
Asked how he wanted to plead, he said theatrically: “If I were standing before the Almighty, I could give but one answer – I am not guilty. So please help me, God.”
Finally, after about two hours, the first witness, Miss Darinne Ko, was called to the stand.
Throughout the trial, Tey paced up and down in the dock, going to one side to confer with his lawyers, rustling through documents and checking what had been said by Miss Ko.
At one point, she said she was very distracted by his movements, but the judge told her to focus on her testimony.
Miss Ko subsequently sat with her hand glued to her forehead, shielding her from seeing Tey.
She turned further away from him later in the day when photographs he took of them after their first sexual encounter were tendered in court by the prosecution.
Tey objected to the 18 photos being submitted as evidence at this stage, until the forensic expert who extracted the photos from his laptop took the stand.
While claiming that he did not want these “compromising” photos to influence the judge’s mind, he held one of them up high and slowly swirled around so that the packed courtroom could see it.
Tey also had several notable sound bites.
At one point, he said he preferred to be referred to as the “defendant”, rather than the “accused”.
At another, he claimed to have been “scrambling like mad” and like a “headless chicken” when given only a few days to read a forensic report linked to the case.
When the prosecutor asked for a short break, Judge Tan said the transcribers also needed a break. Tey chipped in: “So do I, I’d taken too much fluids during lunch.”
Just before the lunch break, Tey asked that all officers from the Corrupt Practices Investigations Bureau be removed from the court.
The prosecution said only one officer – Miss Ko’s escort – was in court and she was not related to the investigations.
Tey said he saw no reason for her to remain in court then and said: “I can escort the witness as well.”
Mr Jumabhoy retorted: “We thankfully and respectfully decline.”
But Tey had the last word: “I beg your pardon, Your Honour. I should have been more restrained.”
Related story: Darrine Ko says she lost her virginity to Prof Tey
- wong chee tat :)
Woman in sex-for-grades trial says she lost virginity to NUS law professor
Woman in sex-for-grades trial says she lost virginity to NUS law professor
By:
He was her law lecturer who later became a friend. They got closer as she developed feelings for him.
One day in July 2010, they started kissing in his office at the National University of Singapore (NUS). They then had sex on a couch in the office. It was her first time.
Miss Darinne Ko Wen Hui, now 23, was then five days short of her 21st birthday.
Their sexual encounters form the crux of the prosecution's case against NUS law professor Tey Tsun Hang, who faces six charges of obtaining gratification in the form of sex and gifts from Miss Ko. Each corruption charge carries a maximum punishment of a fine of up to $100,000 or a jail term of up to five years, or both.
Outlining the prosecution's case, Deputy Public Prosecutor Andre Jumabhoy said that "the cloak of love provides no cover no cover for what was essentially an NUS law professor taking advantage of his student".
Read the full report in The New Paper on Friday (Jan 11).
Tey put on a dramatic show on the first day of his trial yesterday. For details on his court antics, read the report here.
- wong chee tat :)
CPIB officers took law student away for overnight questioning
CPIB officers took law student away for overnight questioning
TNP PHOTO: Benjamin Seetor
The knocks at her door came at 6.30am, three hours after Miss Darinne Ko Wen Hui (above), 23, had gone to bed. One of her parents opened the door for two officers from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) on April 2 last year.
The officers said they needed Miss Ko's assistance on an investigation. One of her parents woke her up. The officers searched her bedroom and took three files of law school notes, her laptop and mobile phone, an iPad, loose papers and an appointment letter.
They then took Miss Ko back to the Bureau for questioning.
Details of Miss Ko's time at the Bureau were heard in court yesterday, at the second day of the trial of law professor Tey Tsun Hang, 41, who is charged with six counts of corruptly obtaining sex and gifts from her.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Andre Jumabhoy yesterday applied to impeach her with respect to eight paragraphs in the CPIB statement recorded that day.
If successful, the move would see the star witness in the sex-for-grades trial declared a hostile witness, meaning one who deviates from prior statements made.
- wong chee tat :)
The knocks at her door came at 6.30am, three hours after Miss Darinne Ko Wen Hui (above), 23, had gone to bed. One of her parents opened the door for two officers from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) on April 2 last year.
The officers said they needed Miss Ko's assistance on an investigation. One of her parents woke her up. The officers searched her bedroom and took three files of law school notes, her laptop and mobile phone, an iPad, loose papers and an appointment letter.
They then took Miss Ko back to the Bureau for questioning.
Details of Miss Ko's time at the Bureau were heard in court yesterday, at the second day of the trial of law professor Tey Tsun Hang, 41, who is charged with six counts of corruptly obtaining sex and gifts from her.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Andre Jumabhoy yesterday applied to impeach her with respect to eight paragraphs in the CPIB statement recorded that day.
If successful, the move would see the star witness in the sex-for-grades trial declared a hostile witness, meaning one who deviates from prior statements made.
- wong chee tat :)
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Key witness in sex-for-grades trial claims CPIB coercion
Key witness in sex-for-grades trial claims CPIB coercion
By Claire Huang | Posted: 11 January 2013 2236 hrs
SINGAPORE: The prosecution in the sex-for-grades corruption trial involving a law professor, turned against its key witness on the second day of the hearing by impeaching her credibility.
It argued on Friday that star witness Darinne Ko Wen Hui's testimony on Thursday had deviated from her first statement to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, taken in April last year.
Tey Tsun Hang, a former district judge, faces six counts of corruptly obtaining gratification in the form of gifts and sex from Ms Ko, between May and July 2010.
The gifts included tailor-made shirts, an iPod Touch and a Montblanc pen.
The prosecution said these were inducements to show favour in Tey's assessment of Ms Ko's academic performance.
In a dramatic twist to the closely-watched trial, Ms Ko said she was coerced into making parts of her first CPIB statement.
She said the CPIB recording officers were only willing to record some of what she told them.
The 23-year-old added that in relation to the gifts she showered on Tey, one CPIB recording officer "received specific orders" to record within the parameters of her agreement "with the (CPIB) boss".
These came minutes after the prosecution applied to impeach her credibility for parts of her testimony made on Thursday.
The swift move follows discrepancies in a few areas, including her amount of interaction with Tey after they broke up and the details of photos taken after they had sex.
Earlier in the day, the prosecution showed Ms Ko photographs of her and Tey, supposedly taken after they had sex.
When asked about some of the photos, Ms Ko said she could not remember when and where it took place. Apparently, this is inconsistent with her statement to the CPIB.
Ms Ko said on Thursday she gave the S$740 Montblanc pen to Tey as a belated birthday gift.
But prosecution pointed out that she failed to mention it in any of her CPIB statements.
To this, Ms Ko admitted she had "failed to convey to them (CPIB) at that point in time".
Ms Ko then said that she amended "only parts" of the first statement "which were coerced", in her subsequent statements.
She also said she stated clearly previously that the reasons for the gifts were due to her "feelings of affection" for Tey.
With impeachment, the judge will have to decide at the end of the trial, which parts of Ms Ko's evidence to take into consideration.
The trial started with Tey asking the prosecution for information on his former students' grades, including that of Ms Ko.
Some four hours were spent going through more than 30 applications, of which, six were granted and the rest were deemed irrelevant by Chief District Judge Tan Siong Thye, who denied some of his requests.
At one point in time, he told Tey off for wasting the court's time as some of the information have already been provided.
The trial continues.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
By Claire Huang | Posted: 11 January 2013 2236 hrs
SINGAPORE: The prosecution in the sex-for-grades corruption trial involving a law professor, turned against its key witness on the second day of the hearing by impeaching her credibility.
It argued on Friday that star witness Darinne Ko Wen Hui's testimony on Thursday had deviated from her first statement to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, taken in April last year.
Tey Tsun Hang, a former district judge, faces six counts of corruptly obtaining gratification in the form of gifts and sex from Ms Ko, between May and July 2010.
The gifts included tailor-made shirts, an iPod Touch and a Montblanc pen.
The prosecution said these were inducements to show favour in Tey's assessment of Ms Ko's academic performance.
In a dramatic twist to the closely-watched trial, Ms Ko said she was coerced into making parts of her first CPIB statement.
She said the CPIB recording officers were only willing to record some of what she told them.
The 23-year-old added that in relation to the gifts she showered on Tey, one CPIB recording officer "received specific orders" to record within the parameters of her agreement "with the (CPIB) boss".
These came minutes after the prosecution applied to impeach her credibility for parts of her testimony made on Thursday.
The swift move follows discrepancies in a few areas, including her amount of interaction with Tey after they broke up and the details of photos taken after they had sex.
Earlier in the day, the prosecution showed Ms Ko photographs of her and Tey, supposedly taken after they had sex.
When asked about some of the photos, Ms Ko said she could not remember when and where it took place. Apparently, this is inconsistent with her statement to the CPIB.
Ms Ko said on Thursday she gave the S$740 Montblanc pen to Tey as a belated birthday gift.
But prosecution pointed out that she failed to mention it in any of her CPIB statements.
To this, Ms Ko admitted she had "failed to convey to them (CPIB) at that point in time".
Ms Ko then said that she amended "only parts" of the first statement "which were coerced", in her subsequent statements.
She also said she stated clearly previously that the reasons for the gifts were due to her "feelings of affection" for Tey.
With impeachment, the judge will have to decide at the end of the trial, which parts of Ms Ko's evidence to take into consideration.
The trial started with Tey asking the prosecution for information on his former students' grades, including that of Ms Ko.
Some four hours were spent going through more than 30 applications, of which, six were granted and the rest were deemed irrelevant by Chief District Judge Tan Siong Thye, who denied some of his requests.
At one point in time, he told Tey off for wasting the court's time as some of the information have already been provided.
The trial continues.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
NUS law prof wants prosecution to give information on ex-students' results
NUS law prof wants prosecution to give information on ex-students' results
By Claire Huang | Posted: 11 January 2013 1116 hrs
SINGAPORE: The National University of Singapore (NUS) law professor on trial for corruption in a sex-for-grades case has asked the prosecution to provide information on the results of a few former students.
Tey Tsun Hang, 41, made the request on Friday.
He's accused of obtaining gratification in the form of gifts and sex from his former student, Darinne Ko Wen Hui, 23, between May and July 2010.
The gifts include tailor-made shirts, an iPod touch and a Montblanc pen.
The prosecution said these were inducements to show favour in his assessment of Ms Ko's academic performance.
Minutes into the second day of the trial, Tey said he filed a criminal motion in the High Court in August last year to ask for information from NUS on the grades of Ms Ko and four other students.
The four students were called up by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau during investigations.
Tey had requested for information on the students' grades to support his assertion that false confessions were extracted from him.
Chief District Judge Tan Siong Thye has ordered the prosecution and defence to sort out issue before continuing with the examination of Ms Ko.
Tey, a former district judge, faces six counts of corruption.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
By Claire Huang | Posted: 11 January 2013 1116 hrs
SINGAPORE: The National University of Singapore (NUS) law professor on trial for corruption in a sex-for-grades case has asked the prosecution to provide information on the results of a few former students.
Tey Tsun Hang, 41, made the request on Friday.
He's accused of obtaining gratification in the form of gifts and sex from his former student, Darinne Ko Wen Hui, 23, between May and July 2010.
The gifts include tailor-made shirts, an iPod touch and a Montblanc pen.
The prosecution said these were inducements to show favour in his assessment of Ms Ko's academic performance.
Minutes into the second day of the trial, Tey said he filed a criminal motion in the High Court in August last year to ask for information from NUS on the grades of Ms Ko and four other students.
The four students were called up by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau during investigations.
Tey had requested for information on the students' grades to support his assertion that false confessions were extracted from him.
Chief District Judge Tan Siong Thye has ordered the prosecution and defence to sort out issue before continuing with the examination of Ms Ko.
Tey, a former district judge, faces six counts of corruption.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
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