Plastic surgeon Woffles Wu 'not spared because he's rich'
 

Plastic surgeon Woffles Wu 'not spared because he's rich'


http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIM...17_3166193.jpghttp://measuredmusings.files.wordpre...-shanmugam.jpg


Law Minister explains Woffles Wu sentencing
Updated 04:05 AM Jun 17, 2012
SINGAPORE - Law Minister K. Shanmugam has responded to comments that the sentence meted out to plastic surgeon Dr Woffles Wu was too lenient.

Dr Wu was fined S$1,000 on Wednesday for abetting Mr Kuan Kit Wah, then 76, to provide misleading information to the police in November 2006. The car belonging to Dr Wu, was travelling at 91 kph on Adam Road when the speed limit is 70kph.

Mr Shanmugam said the incident raises four questions: Why Dr Wu was charged under section 81(3) of the Road Traffic Act; why abetment; why he was given a fine; and why there was a lapse of six years before Dr Wu was taken to task.

Mr Shanmugam explained that the offence was committed in 2006 when section 204 of the Penal Code had not been enacted yet. The usual practice at the time was that a person would be charged under Section 81(3)

As for why Dr Wu was charged with abetment, Mr Shanmugam said the 52-year-old "did not make the misleading statements himself."

The minister said the statements in question were made by Mr Kuan, which was why the charge could only be that of abetment.

Mr Shanmugam stressed that investigations are ongoing, as to who the driver actually was and that the case has not been concluded.

He said the decision to prosecute was made by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) and that it is independent in making those decisions.

As for sentencing, Mr Shanmugam said the courts make that decision and a fine is apparently "within the norm of usual sentences" under that charge.

Noting that there have been cases where the offender was jailed, the law minister said based on information provided by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), fines are more commonly meted out.

Mr Shanmugam added the reasons for the findings will not be known until there is a written judgement from the court. And only if and when there is one, he said one can only guess at the reasons for the judgement.

In this case, he said there was no evidence of any money passing hands.

He added that Mr Kuan was also not charged and that could have been because the AGC took into account the fact that Mr Kuan is now over 80 years of age.

As for why it took six years for Dr Wu to be prosecuted, Mr Shanmugam said the police were unaware of the offences at that time.

He said information was received only much later through a complaint to the AGC, made "more recently".

Once the complaint was received, authorities investigated and thereafter the AGC decided to charge Dr Wu.



STICKER LADY CASE

Mr Shanmugam's comments were made on the sidelines of a community event. Turning to the case of the 25-year-old, dubbed the sticker-lady, who was arrested for vandalism Law Minister Shanmugam said there are no hard and fast rules on what's considered art on public buildings.

He said the government must look at the consensus of the majority and how the majority would like society to be structured. Charges have yet to be filed on sticker-lady Samantha Lo.

CHANNEL NEWSASIA

But he somehow happened to be rich? You can't fine a 80yrs old? All rubbish

He is not spared because he is rich, yeah right, and others can easily dig out tonnes of other cases when the culprits are convicted to jail time for lesser crimes.

Notice the carefully worded statements; "did not make the misleading statement himself" (but fall short of saying he did not mastermind the crime, look, how can someone else be so stupid to take the rap for him??) "no evidence that money changed hands" (no evidence? is that an escape clause if evidence comes up later? no money involved? how about other kind of favours?)

hahaha.....using other's pple particular's for traffic offences are more common than 1 thought.....
most of the time, there is no money involved.....(i had also also done it before and i know many other who did so)
if there is no serious injuries/damage to properties; no tip-off; etc.....nobody bothers.
WW's case becum high profile simply becos he is WW.
he is screwed becos all eyes are on this case already......cpib is involved.....will be hard for AGC to cover-up anything...

Now that so many are aware of his traffic offence, he will be spending sleepless nights wondering whether people will tie such a petty lie with his professional integrity.

truth to be told, me wonder if he would even care http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/redface.gifhttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/redface.gifhttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/redface.gif

Funny isn't it that beating a traffic light or overspeeding above a number of kmph are actually minor offences even though it can cost you some demerit points. Nobody will give two hoots about it when they regard your character. But lying is another matter.

He might not be worried about the lying part but he should be concerned about his business unless you are saying his clientele are all of the same kind.

bro,
no lah, if it was his nature to lie and not give a hoot about it, he can surely sweet talk his clients next time http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/tongue.gifhttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/tongue.gifhttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/tongue.gif

I think you are probably right but people like that will want all bases to be covered and will try all means to appear innocent.

According to CNA forum, someone has found out that Dr Wu is actually nephew of late President Ong:

http://www.pachealthholdings.com/csc.../nip_tuck.html

"Dr Wu - who counts the late former president Ong Teng Cheong as his uncle, The Link's Tina Tan-Leo as his cousin, and Dick Lee and Glen Goei as his friends - has other luxuries. "


Fulle article:

makeover_hero.jpg

How much more Nip/Tuck can we be?

They are opposites in temperament, their clientele is a who's who of the region and they jet-set in luxury cars and fly first class. JEANMARIE TAN (jeanm@sph.com.sg) gets under the skin of plastic surgeons Dr Woffles Wu and Dr Martin Huang to find out how they resemble television's hottest surgeons in the medical drama Nip/Tuck.

They've known each other since they were teenagers, when they competed on opposing teams at a public speaking competition.

They attended medical school at the National University of Singapore together, and ended up working side-by-side at Singapore General Hospital's (SGH) plastic surgery unit. They even talked of becoming partners and setting up a practice together. Seemingly opposite in temperament and looks, they were also each other's best man.

Today, Dr Woffles Wu and Dr Martin Huang - best friends for 28 years - are considered a cut above the rest in their profession. 'How much more Nip/Tuck can we be?' Dr Wu joked to The New Paper during a joint interview with Dr Huang at his clinic at Camden Medical Centre.


TV DRAMA

In case you've been under anaesthesia for the past few weeks, Nip/Tuck is the critically-acclaimed US TV drama about two plastic surgeons/med school buddies who run a posh practice in Miami. Dr Christian Troy (Julian McMahon) is the flashy, opportunistic bad boy, and Dr Shawn McNamara (Dylan Walsh) is the upright family man.

It's hard not to compare Dr Wu and Dr Huang to their on-screen alter egos - at least on a superficial level. With his spectacles and neatly-parted hair, Dr Wu comes across as conservative. But in reality, he is the 'flamboyant, even outrageous' social butterfly, according to Dr Huang, who is with MD Specialist Healthcare at Paragon.

On the other hand, 43-year-old Dr Huang may look like a smooth playboy in his designer togs, but he's actually the introvert. And, the one who receives the most female attention. Dr Wu, 44, quipped: 'The girls love him!' He added: 'Martin's a perfectionist. There's also an elegance and grace to the way he behaves. He has a wicked sense of humour - that's why we get on so well.'

They first met in 1976 at the finals of an elocution contest, where Dr Wu represented St Andrew's Secondary School and Dr Huang, Catholic High. Over the years, they've helped each other's careers. Dr Huang was studying general surgery, but upon Dr Wu's recommendation, switched to plastic surgery. Dr Huang left SGH in 1998 to set up his own practice, Dr Wu followed suit in 2000 and relied on his pal to show him the ropes. They also share knowledge - Dr Huang has even adopted Dr Wu's famous facelift thread technique for his own patients.

But isn't there any rivalry between them? Dr Huang said: 'Yes, but there always has been. It's a healthy competition, and not an obsession where you let the one-upmanship become the end in itself.'
'If I didn't respect him, I wouldn't even want to compete with him. But because he's good, it drives me on as well and we both improve.'

But both appeared hesitant when asked if they would consider a partnership again in future. Dr Wu said: 'It's not inconceivable, but now we're in two diametrically opposite kind of business practices - a solo one and a big group.' Dr Huang added: 'I still consider us spiritual partners anyway, through our professionalism and friendship.'

Separate or co-existing, their current game plan is definitely working - just look at their rich and glamorous lifestyles. On average, both plastic surgeons work a 65-hour week, and their clientele ranges from the prominent (wives of politicians, actresses, models, lawyers, bankers) to the ordinary (students, housewives, office ladies). Dr Wu jet-sets twice a month to present his work in the US and Europe - flying first-class.

LUXURIES

Dr Wu - who counts the late former president Ong Teng Cheong as his uncle, The Link's Tina Tan-Leo as his cousin, and Dick Lee and Glen Goei as his friends - has other luxuries. Like his expensive art and sculpture collection which he stores in his bungalow-cum-warehouse at Upper Thomson, while he lives in his unrenovated 1950s family home on the same street. And then there are his two Mercedes which he has lovingly restored for $100,000 each.

And just as Dr Wu enjoys flying first-class, Dr Huang prefers to drive first-class - he owns a Porsche Boxster S and a Jaguar XJR. He is currently building a $4.5 million house at Sunset Vale and rents out an apartment at Astrid Meadows. Needless to say, these oft-quoted plastic surgeons are also very comfortable at being labelled as celebrities. Dr Huang said: 'It's not something we actively or intentionally tried to create, but it just happened naturally, which is the best way. There is also a certain glamour attached to the industry anyway.'

But with the lion's share of the spotlight constantly on Dr Wu and Dr Huang, other surgeons have been allegedly sharpening their scalpels. Both claimed that they've heard negative comments and 'backhanded compliments' through the grapevine. Dr Huang said: 'I've heard some say that I overcharge. But I charge what I feel is fair, because I put in a lot of time and effort. If you work hard, do good work, and are lucky to have a bit of talent along the way, success will just come. I suppose the danger for us is to let it all get to our heads. That's why it's important to remember all the basic things that got you there - like taking care of your patients.'

Would they go under the knife to look better?

Tell me what you don't like about yourself. That's the standard feeler question the plastic surgeons in Nip/Tuck ask their patients. Now, let's flip it back to the doctors.

Dr Wu and Dr Huang give themselves frequent skin-rejuvenating treatments like botox, fillers and IPL (intense pulse light), but are not free from physical insecurities. Dr Wu offered: 'Oh, I have a lot of issues about myself!' He had an operation on his nose 20 years ago to fix a breathing problem, and used to be bothered by his 'small head and big bum', that he was born with too few teeth and hated wearing glasses. Dr Huang has acne scars from his younger days, his ears are asymmetrical, and his eyebags are 'getting worse'. Yet, both say they aren't 'bothered enough' by their flaws, and are too 'lazy' and 'busy' to go under the knife.

In the pilot episode of Nip/Tuck, one of the surgeon's wives requests for breast implants. Luckily for Dr Wu and Dr Huang, their spouses don't have severe body image problems. Dr Wu's wife Juay Yong, a 44-year-old health policy administrator, is 'very laidback' while Dr Huang's wife Patricia, a 36-year-old ex-SIA stewardess, takes the initiative. 'She keeps asking me if she needs botox, which she doesn't! She also complains that I don't do enough for her, and it's even harder for her to get treatment from me because she has to queue up,' joked Dr Huang.

Since Nip/Tuck featured the same surgeon's teenage son demanding a circumcision, would they be willing to do vanity surgery on their own children? Dr Wu is all for it - he has a four-year-old son, Wellington, and daughter Waverly was born on Sunday. Dr Huang also expressed interest in operating on his son Alexander, who's 1 1/2. 'He doesn't have double eyelids ... But mine only appeared when I was a young adult, so there's still hope.'
Nip/Tuck is showing over Channel 5, Fridays at 11pm.

Source: The Newpaper

http://www.woffleswu.com/images/woffles_lift_pix.jpg

Dear GMS,
"Mr K Shanmugam explained that the offence was committed in 2006 when section 204 of the Penal Code had not been enacted yet."
This is a very lame explanation for if, at the point of time Sect 204 had not been enacted yet, there should be another prevailing or applicable sect that can cover the area of offence that the offender can be brought to charge.

I am not a legal mind but using K Shanumgam's logic of argument would mean that any other offender that are liable to be charged under section 204 at the point of time would be walking-off scott free happily!!



The usual practice at the time was that a person would be charged under Section 81(3)

http://www.woffleswu.com/images/woffles_lift_pix.jpg

Dear GMS,
"Mr K Shanmugam explained that the offence was committed in 2006 when section 204 of the Penal Code had not been enacted yet."
This is a very lame explanation for if, at the point of time Sect 204 had not been enacted yet, there should be another prevailing or applicable sect that can cover the area of offence that the offender can be brought to charge.

I am not a legal mind but using K Shanumgam's logic of argument would mean that any other similar offender that was liable to be charged under section 204 at the point of time would be walking-off scott free happily!!



The usual practice at the time was that a person would be charged under Section 81(3)

if he was spared because he is rich, why even bother to fine him at all?

You should read the two articles on TOC:

http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/06/...-17-june-2012/


http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/06/...-17-june-2012/

Basically it means that there is another more stringent law under panel code which could and should be used to charge Dr Wu even if he committed the crime back in 2006. This was the "NORM" back then.

The only defense AGC has is that DR Wu didn't provide the "false information" but this is intriguing. When you are the car owner, the first thing traffic police do when your car beat the traffic light is to send you a letter to ask you to provide the driver's particulars. If you give the false particulars, you will be charged under that penal code.

AGC argument is that that law (article 182) is only invoked when there is serious injuries involved but this has been proven to be untrue by TOC as well.

Goh Meng Seng

Its not that nobody bothers.
Its precisely that many people does that that more are getting caught.
Back then our whole family even had a designated fall guy to take the rap whenever any one of us got a ticket....a cousin that has a driving license but does not drive.
Lazy as the poodles may be, if you are caught on camera now....there is high chance they will go thru the footage.
Cases that got red flagged are usually when the driver is no the owner, and when the driver is an obvious female.
The case is big hoo-ha is because of the $1K fine for an elite.

GMS

As a leading politician, you should know better than to quote this character assassination shit. It has nothing to do with the offence. So what if he is this or that?

hahaha...,.this is a very high profile case.....
investigation is still on-going.....
i am sure, AGC/papeee is not so kuku to try to cover up in this case....
yes they are digging a hole by saying that WW did not provide the driver's particulars.....let's get the pop corn ready and see how they dig out of this hole...relac lah...the show has not ended.

high profile because the $1k fine and the time lapse from time of offence.
if kena normal sentence would not generate so much interests even though he is an elite.
Investigations on-going....wayang onli.....you believe?
LAW MINISTER was the one who said WW did not provide particulars.......the buck stops there.
You think anything more will happen? I think kena toto first prize got higher chance.

$1k fined is not even a peanut to them... where is the deterrent effect?