//Slammed someone against a pillar and kicked him in the face - 6 months for that? That's not justice - not even in the West, let alone in Singapore. Somethings wrong here. Hopefully, Robert Dahlberg never gets employed again.
Sentence too short: victims
By Cherie Howie Email Cherie
5:30 AM Sunday Dec 2, 2012
A Kiwi broker jailed in Singapore for attacking two men could be
home by Christmas, his father says.
But the victims of former junior Tall Black Robert Dahlberg say they
are still waiting for an apology and that the five-month jail sentence
given to the 35-year-old for the attack was not long enough.
Dahlberg has been in jail since September when he was arrested after
returning to Singapore. He had spent more than a year on the run
when he skipped bail and left the country.
Last week Dahlberg was sentenced to five months' jail. He had
admitted voluntarily causing hurt to Paul Liew, who suffered a gash to his head and a broken nose after
Dahlberg slammed him against a pillar and kicked him in the face during a brawl that also involved two of
Dahlberg's friends. The trio had just left a black-tie charity event called White Collar Boxing.
Another charge of causing hurt by a rash act, which occurred when Dahlberg punched Liew's friend
Laurence Wong in the head, was taken into consideration by the sentencing judge.
Dahlberg's Nelson-based father Bill told the Herald on Sunday the family was relieved the sentencing was
over. "He'll be home for Christmas ... because there's time off for good behaviour."
His son had no plans to appeal against the sentence, but the family has to wait another 10 days to hear
whether the deputy prosecutor's office will appeal.
Dahlberg, who travelled to Singapore to support his son during the sentencing, would not comment on
whether he thought the sentence was fair, or how his son had reacted.
Liew said no sentence was ever enough to make up for the trauma victims suffered.
He had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and avoided crowded places, but could not
afford to pay for counselling.
"I can see the line on my forehead [from the attack] every morning in the mirror. It's an unfortunate
reminder."
Dahlberg had twice offered him $20,000 compensation, but Liew turned the offers down because they were
made while Dahlberg was on the run.
Dahlberg was not remorseful. "Paul and I have not received any apology from him at all." He felt sorry for
Dahlberg's parents, as their son's actions had shamed the family name. "After knowing that his mother
wailed in court, I can tell how heartbroken and disappointed she is."
By Cherie Howie Email Cherie
