Another special one off, cannot use in future cases hor!

[SimonTan]

Oct 30, 2010

Restaurateur's jail term cut to 1 day on appeal

By Selina Lum

PROMINENT restaurateur Giuseppe De Vito, 38, was yesterday jailed a day and fined $3,000 for driving while banned from getting behind the wheel.

 

The jail term was meted out by the High Court after he appealed against his sentence of six weeks' jail and a $500 fine handed down by a district court in August.

 

The Italian, a permanent resident here who is better known as Beppe De Vito, runs Il Lido at Sentosa Golf Club and Forlino at One Fullerton.

 

In September 2008, he was banned from driving for two years after being convicted of drink driving, running two red lights and being abusive towards a policeman. He was also fined $8,600.

 

But in September last year, he was caught driving by a traffic police officer along Commonwealth Avenue.

 

In August this year, he was jailed six weeks for driving under disqualification and fined $500 for driving without insurance. He was also given a three-year driving ban.

 

But De Vito appealed to the High Court against the jail term, arguing he deserved only a fine.

 

His lawyer Julian Tay told the High Court that after De Vito was banned from driving two years ago, he hired a full-time driver to ferry him around on weekdays.

 

But on Sept 13 last year, his wife, who was then in the early stages of pregnancy, suddenly felt unwell and discovered she had vaginal bleeding.

 

Mr Tay said the couple became anxious as she had been experiencing a difficult pregnancy and De Vito was thinking of how he could rush her for medical help should the bleeding continue.

 

When he noticed that the car's petrol tank was almost empty, he decided to drive to the nearest petrol station to top it up. Shortly after driving out from their Holland Hill house, he was stopped at a spot check along Commonwealth Avenue.

 

The lawyer said De Vito was compelled to drive as he was then faced with a medical emergency.

 

Mr Tay added that his client has since arranged for the driver to be on duty on weekends too, and that the distance travelled was less than 1km, although Deputy Public Prosecutor Terence Chua said Google Maps gave a distance of 2.7km.

 

The DPP argued that nothing in medical reports showed that De Vito's wife was bleeding on the day in question. He also argued that if there was a genuine medical emergency, instead of going to get a petrol top-up, De Vito would have called for an ambulance or driven his wife to the hospital immediately. The DPP also noted there were other petrol stations nearer to De Vito's home.

 

But Justice Choo Han Teck allowed the appeal after considering the short distance travelled and De Vito's personal circumstances. But he stressed that this case was not to be used as a sentencing guideline for future cases.

[SimonTan]

Was caught for drunk driving before, ran red light, abuse polocemen.

Now kena caught second time, appeal successful!

 

Singapore justice is fair and compassionate. Got give second chance.

 

Now this is the kind of gentle and understanding place that I like to retire in!

 

Keep up the good justice.

 

Edited October 30, 2010 by SimonTan

[Dpsk]

wow really fair!

 

But Justice Choo Han Teck allowed the appeal after considering the short distance travelled and De Vito's personal circumstances. But he stressed that this case was not to be used as a sentencing guideline for future cases.

[Blackwind]

"But he stressed that this case was not to be used as a sentencing guideline for future cases."

[Darthrevan]

"But he stressed that this case was not to be used as a sentencing guideline for future cases."

 

wow!

[Amuze]

anyone with the resources to dig up past cases? those who are let off with light or lightened sentencing.

Edited October 30, 2010 by Amuze

[Nlatio]

wow... last nite got 23 fella kena caught drink driving..... damn.... their wife must be also in labour thus why they are out celebrating.... specail one off case... just give them a warning will do lor..... NBCCB......

 

BTw, off topic... what's with the fire works tonite???

[Perrier]

ya. he has only driven "1km" before he was caught. How far would he had gone if he wasn't stopped?

 

And to let him off so lightly as a repeated offender, this is ridiculous. In fact, that judge should have increase his sentence.

[Fcw75]

You guys should know that ang moh here ALWAYS get away. Someone please tell them we are not in the colonial era anymore.

 

There's another farking ang moh riding a bike and punched a driver. He got away too.

[Nlatio]

You guys should know that ang moh here ALWAYS get away. Someone please tell them we are not in the colonial era anymore.

 

There's another farking ang moh riding a bike and punched a driver. He got away too.

 

wah really... must be true..... Ang Mo Tua Ki.....

[Tarzan666]

Funni hor, wife in "labour pain"... 1st ting he do is go pump petrol coz "empty tank"..

I wonder whether they check did he indeed pump or not.

[Darthrevan]

wow... last nite got 23 fella kena caught drink driving..... damn.... their wife must be also in labour thus why they are out celebrating.... specail one off case... just give them a warning will do lor..... NBCCB......

 

BTw, off topic... what's with the fire works tonite???

 

and anyone who got caught speeding must have a wife's in labour

[Pippo20]

Funni hor, wife in "labour pain"... 1st ting he do is go pump petrol coz "empty tank"..

I wonder whether they check did he indeed pump or not.

 

Yes, proves that the judge is an idiot to believe the crap..

 

And i thought they want to punish road offenders more heavily?

[Icedbs]

What's new?

 

The romanian also got away, so add one more italian is ok what.....

 

The only time when ang moh can't get away is when they try to screw with public properties such as MRT trains.

[Zyrofillica]

What's new?

 

The romanian also got away, so add one more italian is ok what.....

 

The only time when ang moh can't get away is when they try to screw with public properties such as MRT trains.

 

the only way angmoh will tio jail is if he plough through the road block and K.O a few of our men in blue.