news  Friday April 10, 2009 TODAY
nude couple
A*STAR scholar
in Holland V jaunt
Duo identified as they
are finally charged in court
Zul Othman
zul@mediacorp.com.sg
SHE is a PhD scholar with A*STAR, the
Agency for Science, Technology and
Research, who is studying at the Karolinksa
Institute in Sweden, and he, a Swedish
student on an exchange programme.
The young couple who caused a stir
when they walked down Holland Village
in the buff on Jan 24, were charged in court
yesterday with appearing nude in public.
Jan Philip, a 21-year-old Swede, and
24-year-old Eng Kai Er, a Singaporean, re-
mained silent when they appeared before
District Judge Shaiffudin Saruwan.
It is not known why it took so long be-
fore the duo was hauled before the judge.
However, their long-awaited court date went
by quickly after their lawyer, Mr William
Chan, asked for an adjournment to write in
to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Today understands that by writing in,
the lawyer would be appealing for the
charges to be withdrawn and the accused
be let off with a warning. The lawyer could
also make an appeal to have the charges
reduced.
If convicted under the Miscellaneous
Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act,
the couple could be fined up to $2,000
and/or jailed up to three months each.
Mr Philip was offered bail of $5,000 and
had his passport impounded. Eng did not
need to post bail as she is a Singaporean.
A National Science Scholar, Ms Eng is
listed on the A*STAR website as pursuing
a PhD in infection biology. The National
Science Scholarship (PhD) prepares schol-
ars for key leadership roles in Singapore’s
science and technology future.
Questions on SAF bonds, platform doors
WHILE platform screen-doors are being
rolled out at all open platform MRT
stations, what’s being done meanwhile for
passengers’ safety? Can Singapore Armed
Forces (SAF) officers on bonds apply to
leave the service early?
While the theme of the economic
downturn continues to run through
questions filed for Monday’s sitting of
Parliament, some recent deaths in the
news have also sparked questions by
parliamentarians.
The death of SAF Captain Dr Allan Ooi,
for instance, has put on the spotlight on SAF
service bonds. Tampines GRC MP Irene Ng
is asking the Defence Minister under what
circumstances it will allow bonded officers
to resign; and how many such requests
there have been over the years.
The
couple
mingled
with
patrons
along
Lorong
Mambong in
their birthday
suits.
(Inset) The
female
student who is
on an A*STAR
Picture courtesy Leonard Tan scholarship.
When contacted, a spokesperson for
A*STAR told Today the Agency is concerned
that the woman charged in court for the
offence is an A*STAR scholar. And she
added: “However, as the matter is now
before the courts, we would prefer not to
make any further comment until the case
is resolved.”
In her teens, Ms Eng was a competitive
ice skater who got to represent Singapore in
Skate Asia, the largest ice-skating competi-
tion outside the United States. She was also
a member of Mensa, an association whose
members are defined by their high IQs.
Her father Mr Eng Weng Kiong told
Today his daughter is a nice and lovely girl,
and the family is standing by her.
During their 15-minute stroll down the
popular hangout in January, the couple were
said to have walked hand-in-hand and waved
to patrons of the eateries along Lorong Mam-
bong. They were also said to have stopped at
a bar and chatted with its patrons.
Pictures of their jaunt were later posted
on the Internet by a member of the public.
The pair were arrested shortly after, but
were released on bail. They will appear in
court again on April 30.
With two deaths this year of passengers
who had fallen onto MRT tracks, Sembawang
GRC’s Lim Wee Kiak is asking for an update
on the programme to install half-height
screen doors at all open platforms; and
whether this would be accelerated.
On the recession’s impact on business,
Ang Mo Kio GRC’s Lee Bee Wah wants to
know if the National Development Minister
will freeze all JTC and HDB rentals.
Also, was he aware of banks not being
willing to extend existing loan periods for
property developers to tide them over the
times? Would he consider, asked Ms Lee,
assisting the developers?
Three Government Bills will be read
a second time: Preservation of Public
Monuments, Public Order and Civil Aviation
Authority of Singapore.