I would like to respond to a news article, ‘Eight months’ jail, whipping for 14-year overstay’, published in the Bulletin on April 21.
I am a citizen who sees the importance of our country’s law as well as rules and regulations to keep people in check. Without law enforcement, we would have a society in a shambles.
I have to agree that the foreigner in the article had violated the immigration rule by overstaying in our country for over a decade, and he should be punished. But the sentence imposed, especially with the inclusion of whipping, seemed a tad harsh.
Sure, he broke the rule by staying in our country without permission, and he should be punished for it. However, the whipping seemed rather severe for the nature of his crime.
For one, he didn’t steal from anyone; as a matter of fact, he worked odd jobs to earn a living. Some could argue that these jobs could have gone to locals. But let’s be frank, how many locals are willing to pick up garbage, mow the lawn and unclog drains under the hot sun?
Since the article didn’t state that he had any prior convictions, it is reasonable to assume he was as law-abiding as most of us, contributing to society by doing work that most locals are reluctant to consider.
I’m not trying to argue that we should reverse the sentence; it is more about making sure that harsher punishments are reserved for those who actually wreak havoc on people’s lives.
Mr Pacifist
